Oil spill modelling in the Weddell Sea
Petit, B. (1997). Oil spill modelling in the Weddell Sea, in: Caschetto, S. (Ed.) Belgian research programme on the Antarctic: scientific results of phase III (1992-1996): 2. A: Hydrodynamics; B: Marine Geophysics. pp. 1-25 In: Caschetto, S. (Ed.) (1997). Belgian research programme on the Antarctic: scientific results of phase III (1992-1996): 2. A: Hydrodynamics; B: Marine Geophysics. Belgian scientific research programme on Antarctica. Federal Office for Scientific, Technical and Cultural Affairs: Brussel. 94 pp., more In: Belgian scientific research programme on Antarctica. Belgian Science Policy Office: Brussel. , more |
Abstract | This paper proposes a model of oil behaviour in ice-infested waters. It describes the interactions between oil and ice coupled with a sea ice formation model: The main features of oil spreading and dynamics in an ice pack are taken into account in the model which is tested in three different situations: at short term in cold waters and in the presence of ice, and at long term. The results show that the presence of ice completely modifies the classical spreading of an oil slick by increasing or shrinking the contaminated area, and by incorporating some oil in its structures. The model is used for the simulation of a possible spill in the Weddell Sea. The mean drift of oil follows the Weddell gyre, which takes the remaining contamination toward the circumpolar current. The part of the oil initially entrapped in the ice induces a second spill which cannot be qualified as accidental because the model may provide an answer to the basic questions: when, where, and how much? |
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