http://worldcat.org/entity/work/id/6344962

Marking the Sea Surface with Artificial Sea Slicks and Fluorescent Dyes to Aid Search and Rescue or Ocean Dumping Surveillance Operations

A new technique of marking the ocean surface with monomolecular films in combination with dyes was studied in order to develop a practical sea marker which can be detected by airborne remote sensing devices in addition to visual observation. Monomolecular films of surface-active chemicals damp capillary waves on a body of water and can be used to make marks that are detectable day or night by radar. The area of damped waves is also visible to the eye even though the single-molecule-thick film itself is too thin to be seen. Since the film is so thin, a very small amount of material can be used to cover a large area on the sea surface with a detectable mark. Several water-soluble flourescent dyes were examined, and uranine was chosen for use in the combined seamarker package. A prototype package for a hand-held marker which dispenses both dye and monolayer-forming chemicals was designed and tested in the field. Based on the laboratory and field data a series of mathematical equations was developed to approximate the shapes, sizes and lifetimes of monolayer slicks under different wind conditions. These equations allow the proper amount of monolayer-forming material to be chosen to make a mark of desired size or lifetime. Practical seamarkers using monolayer-film-forming chemicals in combination with water-soluble fluorescent dyes can be produced for marking objects or activities on the sea surface. The information in this report can be used to produce a dye/slick seamarking device tailored to a specific need. (Author).

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