Tar Balls Land on Jersey Shore Beaches

Marine scientists are puzzled by the mysterious appearance of small tar balls on the beaches of Long Branch and Monmouth. These tar balls, smaller than golf balls, have been washing ashore, prompting officials to issue warnings to New Jersey beachgoers not to touch them and to alert authorities instead.

Tar balls are remnants of crude oil that floats on the ocean’s surface. They are formed when the oil is broken up by waves and then washes ashore as small spheres. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration explains that tar balls are typically caused by an oil spill. However, they can also be produced from natural seeps, where oil slowly escapes from the earth’s surface above some petroleum reservoirs.

When crude oil floats on the ocean surface, its physical characteristics change. The lighter components of the oil evaporate, leaving behind much of the heavier oil. Some crude oils mix with water to form an emulsion that often looks like chocolate pudding. This emulsion is much thicker and stickier than the original oil. Wind and waves tear this mixture into smaller pieces, forming tar balls.

Tar balls are very persistent in the marine environment and can travel hundreds of miles. They can be as big as pancakes, but most are coin-sized. The origins of these tar balls remain a mystery, and the United States Coast Guard, along with other federal and state agencies, are currently investigating. Meanwhile, the cleanup of these tar balls, spread over an approximately six-mile area between Sea Bright and Seven Presidents Park in Long Branch, is underway.