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Laboratory Observations of Artificial Sand and Oil Agglomerates Video and Velocity Data: Sea Floor Interaction Experiment Interpretive Video

Metadata Updated: October 29, 2025

Weathered oil in the surf-zone after an oil spill may mix with suspended sediments to form sand and oil agglomerates (SOA). Sand and oil agglomerates may form in mats on the scale of tens of meters (m), and may break apart into pieces between 1 and 10 centimeters (cm) in diameter. These more mobile pieces are susceptible to alongshore and cross-shore transport, and lead to beach re-oiling on the time scale of months to years following a spill. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) conducted experiments March 10 - 13, 2014, to expand the available data on sand and oil agglomerate motion; test shear stress based incipient motion parameterizations in a controlled, laboratory setting; and directly observe SOA exhumation and burial processes. Artificial sand and oil agglomerates (aSOA) were created and deployed in a small-oscillatory flow tunnel in two sets of experiments, during which, video and velocity data were obtained. The first experiment, which was set up to help researchers investigate incipient motion, used with an immobile, rough bottom (referred to as false-floor) and the second–testing seafloor interactions–utilized with a coarse grain sand bottom (movable sand bed). Detailed information regarding the creation of the aSOA can be found in Dalyander et al. (2015). More information about the USGS laboratory experiment conducted in collaboration with the Naval Research Laboratory can be found in the associated Open File Report (OFR Number Unknown).

Access & Use Information

Public: This dataset is intended for public access and use. License: No license information was provided. If this work was prepared by an officer or employee of the United States government as part of that person's official duties it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

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Dates

Metadata Created Date September 12, 2025
Metadata Updated Date October 29, 2025

Metadata Source

Harvested from DOI USGS DCAT-US

Additional Metadata

Resource Type Dataset
Metadata Created Date September 12, 2025
Metadata Updated Date October 29, 2025
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Maintainer
Identifier http://datainventory.doi.gov/id/dataset/usgs-e786fcac-2861-4987-9f1d-1b2a39351214
Data Last Modified 2020-10-13T00:00:00Z
Category geospatial
Public Access Level public
Bureau Code 010:12
Metadata Context https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.jsonld
Metadata Catalog ID https://ddi.doi.gov/usgs-data.json
Schema Version https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema
Catalog Describedby https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.json
Harvest Object Id 8db1c563-8baf-43c2-b0c6-0d76ea23dfc5
Harvest Source Id 2b80d118-ab3a-48ba-bd93-996bbacefac2
Harvest Source Title DOI USGS DCAT-US
Metadata Type geospatial
Old Spatial -89.651, 30.345, -89.557, 30.395
Source Datajson Identifier True
Source Hash d9cab819ce8a34416a62c64b316af1f377ce5b1edf2d67a49936449d9a4be4c7
Source Schema Version 1.1
Spatial {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": -89.651, 30.345, -89.651, 30.395, -89.557, 30.395, -89.557, 30.345, -89.651, 30.345}

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