Offshore mystery sheens; San Diego, CA

San Diego, CA | 2007-Aug-21

Initial Notification: Sector San Diego contacted the NOAA SSC on 21AUG2007 regarding two mystery sheens observed offshore from San Diego, CA. The first sheen was observed at 1400hrs on 20AUG, 25-30nm off the mainland and was described as a "thin" sheen covering 3x3nm and centered at 32deg 37'18"N, 118deg 38' 48"W. The second sheen was observed at 1400hrs on 21AUG, approximately 15 SW of San Clemente Island and was described as a "dark" sheen with a strong odor covering 2x6.6nm running roughly parallel to shore and centered on 32deg 46' 00"N, 117deg 49' 00"W. On 22AUG, two more sheen reports were made at 1300 and 1500hrs. And on 24AUG, two more sheen reports were made at 0630 and 1005hrs.