ASTM F1779-97(2003)
(Practice)Standard Practice for Reporting Visual Observations of Oil on Water
Standard Practice for Reporting Visual Observations of Oil on Water
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This practice can be used by surveillance and tracking staff to report visual observations to the clients of visual observations. The data produced from such observations will provide the basis for preparing maps of the oil-slick location.
This practice provides a procedure for reporting the visual observation of oil on water in a systematic manner and in a common format that can be readily understood by both observers and users of visual oil-spill observation maps.
This practice deals with the possibility that materials other than oil might be confused with oil when using visual observation methods.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers methods of reporting and recording visual observations of oil on water and related activities and phenomena.
1.2 This practice applies only to visual observations of oil on water from an airplane or helicopter. While a similar set of codes could be used for classifying oil on beaches, this subject is not discussed in this practice. It does not cover the use use of remote-sensing equipment from aircraft, which is discussed in a separate standard.
1.3 This practice is applicable for all types of oil under a variety of environmental and geographical situations.
1.4 Visual observations of oil on water from the air involve a number of safety issues associated with the operation of airplanes or helicopters at low altitudes. These are not dealt with in this practice, but the observer should be aware of the hazards of such operations.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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Designation: F 1779 – 97 (Reapproved 2003)
Standard Practice for
Reporting Visual Observations of Oil on Water
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1779; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope characteristicsandshape.Thelocationandsomeaspectsofthe
effectiveness of a response operation can be easily determined
1.1 Thispracticecoversmethodsofreportingandrecording
from an aerial platform. Reports on the presence of wildlife
visual observations of oil on water and related activities and
and the proximity of oil to environmentally sensitive areas are
phenomena.
useful information that can be generated from overflights.
1.2 This practice applies only to visual observations of oil
3.2 Observers of oil on water will generally use either a
on water from an airplane or helicopter. While a similar set of
helicopter or a small fixed-wing airplane. The planes shall be
codes could be used for classifying oil on beaches, this subject
capableofslow-speedflight(120to240km/h;60to120knots)
is not discussed in this practice. It does not cover the use of
for extended periods of time and have good forward and side
remote-sensing equipment from aircraft, which is discussed in
visibility.Theaircraftshallhaveadequaterangeandendurance
a separate standard.
consistent with the size and location of the spill.
1.3 This practice is applicable for all types of oil under a
3.3 If possible, two observers should be used, one on the
variety of environmental and geographical situations.
port and the other on the starboard side of the aircraft.
1.4 Visual observations of oil on water from the air involve
Provision shall be made for the two observers to communicate
a number of safety issues associated with the operation of
readily between themselves and with the flight crew. This can
airplanes or helicopters at low altitudes. These are not dealt
be accomplished by using standard aviation headphones and
with in this practice, but the observer should be aware of the
noise-cancelling microphones connected to an aircraft inter-
hazards of such operations.
com system. Such equipment is readily available on the
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
commercial market.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.4 Standardmapsshallbeprovidedtotheobservers,sothat
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
their data can be easily transferred to a single map or map set
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
for reporting and dissemination. These maps can be based on
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
marine charts, topographic maps or special maps produced for
2. Significance and Use
the spill. Useful scales vary from 1:10000 to 1:50000. It is
difficult to plot information to the required accuracy using
2.1 This practice can be used by surveillance and tracking
maps of a larger scale.
staff to report visual observations to the clients of visual
3.5 The flight path shall be shown on all maps. An initial
observations. The data produced from such observations will
proposed flight path should be prepared prior to the flight.
provide the basis for preparing maps of the oil-slick location.
Duringtheflight,deviationsfromthisplanmaybenecessaryin
2.2 This practice provides a procedure for reporting the
order to observe the total area of the slick.
visual observation of oil on water in a systematic manner and
3.6 Typical flight altitudes range from (100 to 1000 m (300
in a common format that can be readily understood by both
to3000ft)dependingonthenatureofthespillandonthecloud
observers and users of visual oil-spill observation maps.
ceiling at flight time. There are flight safety considerations
2.3 This practice deals with the possibility that materials
associated with low-altitude flying.
other than oil might be confused with oil when using visual
3.7 The best angle to observe an oil slick is directly above
observation methods.
it looking straight down.This is known as a nadir observation.
3. Observational Methods
The flight path should be adjusted, wherever possible, to
provide observers with a nadir view of the slick. For most
3.1 The basic information needed from a visual observation
fixed-wing aircraft, it is not possible to observe directly
program includes the slick size and location, as well as its
downwards, and therefore the flight path should be chosen to
allow for observation of the spill at as near the vertical as
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F20 on Hazardous
possible.
Substances and Oil Spill Response and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
F20.16 on Surveillance and Tracking.
Current edition approved Feb. 10, 1997. Published April 1997 .
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
F 1779 – 97 (2003)
4. Methods of Reporting slick. In this case, sufficient information shall be communi-
cated in order to allow the recipient to produce a map of the
4.1 ReportingNeeds—Thereareanumberofcharacteristics
observations.
of the slick that shall be reported in order to provide the user
5.2 Location of Observation—This location shall be re-
of visual observations with the appropriate amount of infor-
portedinlatitudeandlongitudeoftheapparentcentreoftheoil
mation.Thefollowingcharacteristicsshallbereportedforeach
slick being observed. If the leading edge of the slick can be
slick that is observed during a reconnaissance flight. These
located, its position should be reported. This data can be
observations are a snap-shot in time. Both the location and
determined using the aircraft navigation instruments or using a
characteristics of an oil slick change rapidly. In order to be
portable GPS receiver. It shall be reported in degrees, minutes
useful for responders, the information should be available a
and seconds or in degrees, minutes with two decimal points. If
short time after it is obtained (typically less than 3 h).
it is not possible to obtain the latitude and longitude of the
4.2 ColorofSlick—Thisshallbereportedasacolorcode,as
location, an estimate of the range and bearing, from a properly
follows:
identified geographical reference, shall be used. Alternately,
4.2.1 Brown or Black—B.
aircraft navigation instruments such as VOR/DME or Loran
4.2.2 BrownorBlackwitharedtingesignifyingpresenceof
can be used, if available.
an Emulsion or mousse—E.
5.3 SizeandShapeofSlick—Thesizeandshapeoftheslick
4.2.3 Rainbow sheen—R.
shall be reported. The units used shall be kilometres or metres
4.2.4 Grey or Silver Grey sheen—G.
and represent the major and minor axis of the slick.
4.3 Percentage Coverage and Character of Slick—
5.4 Orientation of Slick—The orientation of the major axis
Percentage of area as described that is covered by oil.
shall be given using degrees from North. In the case of a slick
4.4 Thecharacteroftheslickshallbenotedsuchasfollows:
of complex shape, it shall be divided into a number of smaller
4.4.1 Windrows—W.
sl
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