When collecting fluorometer data, the monitoring team first collects background data away from the oil slick. Then the team moves into the oil slick, collecting data under an untreated part of the slick. Due to natural dispersing of the oil, fluorometer readings are higher in the untreated area than in the area away from the oil slick. Finally, the team moves through the dispersant-treated part of the slick, where the dispersed oil results are highest.
The graph shown below is a typical representation of fluorometer data. The fluorometer readings are highest under the dispersed oil, indicating that dispersants are effective in dispersing the oil into the water column.
Revised: July 17, 2001
Office of Response and Restoration, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration