A preliminary computational surface oil spill trajectory model for ice-covered waters and its validation with two oil spill events: A field experiment in the Barents Sea and an accidental spill in the Gulf of Finland. (December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Babaei, Hossein; Watson, David
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 161:Part B(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-12
• Subjects: Oil in ice -- Computational modelling -- Oil spill trajectory -- Arctic oil spill response; Marine pollution -- Periodicals; Marine Biology -- Periodicals; Water Pollution -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Périodiques; Publications périodiques; Pollution des mers; Lutte antipollution; Electronic journals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111786
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: Trajectory estimation of an oil spill in ice-covered waters is essential for response planning and risk assessment. This paper presents the preliminary development of a new computational model for the estimation of spreading and surface transport of oil in the presence of ice. A new approach for the estimation of spreading in 0.8–0.95 ice concentration range is proposed. Additionally, for the first time the pumping of floating in‑leads oil onto or under ice floes with closing leads is modelled. The model is able to estimate the mobilization of under-ice oil and its potential subsequent surfacing and works as a stand-alone model with any rectangular-grid ice-ocean model. The model was used to simulate trajectories of two real-life spill events, a field experiment in the Barents Sea where oil and ice were observed to move together and an accidental spill in the Gulf of Finland. Model results were generally consistent with observations. Highlights: An oil spill trajectory model applicable to ice-covered waters was developed. A novel algorithm for the spreading of oil in the presence of ice was introduced. For the first time, transfer of in‑lead oil to over or under ice was parameterized. Simulation results were compared with an observed spill in the Barents Sea. Simulation results were compared with an observed spill in the Gulf of Finland.