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Oil spill near Camarthen Bay, Wales

The Sea Empress, a 147,000-tonne supertanker, ran over rocks in south Wales on the evening of February 15, 1996. Between 65,000 and 70,000 tonnes of light-grade crude oil was spilt. Oil floating on the top of the water suppresses the ocean's capillary waves, creating a surface that is smoother than the surrounding water. This smoother surface appears dark in the radar image. As the oil starts to emulsify and clean-up efforts start to take effect, the capillary waves are not as effectively dampened and the oil appears lighter on the RADARSAT image. Radar imagery helps determine the size, location, and dispersal of the oil spill. (Credit: Canadian Space Agency)

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Photo taken on September 28, 2005

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