- When crude oil, which has the consistency of dirty used oil, spills into ocean water, initially it floats on the top of the water. Over time, the water-soluble components of the oil, called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, disperse into the water. The part of the oil that won't dissolve in water forms a light film and spreads more rapidly through the water than the original crude oil. The waves and water temperature play a part in how quickly the components separate.
- Eventually the massive crude oil spill breaks down and separates into smaller patches, some of which mix with sea water to form a stable mixture called an emulsification. This oil-water emulsification has a yellowish color that characterizes marine oil spills.
- Oil slicks form after the lighter parts of the crude oil have dissolved. The water-insoluble parts of the oil form thick, goo-like globules. Depending on factors such as water temperature and the size of the waves, the globules can float on the surface of the water as an oil slick, float beneath the surface of the water, or sink to the bottom.
- Spilled oil has a toxic effect on wildlife. This effect heightens when combined with certain dispersants (chemicals with a detergent-like effect), which cleanup crews release into the water to break up the oil. Dispersants work in shallow water, but when used in deep water can have a negative effect. The 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, for example, threatened many species of tropical fish and also the brown pelican, which had been taken off the endangered species list before the spill occurred. Because dispersants were used at a greater water depth where the pressure was higher and the temperature lower, they made the oil gooier and harder to clean up. Oil spills also affect the eggs and young offspring of a species, which can severely affect a species's chances of survival.
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