What does 'patchy' surface oil distribution refer to?

'Patchy' surface oil distribution specifically refers to an oil presence that is unevenly spread across the water's surface, which falls within the range of 11-50%. This designation indicates that there are areas where oil is present, but it is not uniformly distributed and may have significant sections where little or no oil is found. Understanding this term is crucial for responding to oil spills and assessing environmental impact, as it influences containment and cleanup strategies.

Considering the context of oil distribution categories, a 'trace' condition indicates a very minimal presence, whereas 'continuous' indicates a near-uniform coverage of oil. The 'broken' distribution suggests an oil coverage that is higher than 'patchy,' indicating even larger areas of oil coverage. Thus, recognizing 'patchy' as 11-50% helps in adequately describing the situation during an oil spill incident or assessment.