when there is an oil spill in the ocean, an oil-slick develops on the surface of the water and spreads quickly. why does this happen?
Effects of oil spills. When oil is spilled or leaked into in waterways and the ocean, it spreads very quickly with the help of wind and currents. A single gallon of oil can create an oil slick up to a couple of acres in size! The BP oil slick had spread over 580 square miles in just three days.