A Theoretical Appraisal of the Joint Effects of Turbulence and of Langmuir Circulations on the Dispersion of Oil Spilled in the Sea.

摘要

The extent to which oil spilled at sea can be dispersed by the action of oceanic turbulence and of Langmuir circulations is investigated theoretically. The bulk of the study concerns the mixing of oil, in the form of small noninteracting particles, into the water column. Computer simulations using physically derived models of turbulent dispersion and of Langmuir circulations indicate that bouyant oil particles can be suspended to depths of tens of meters under moderate environmental conditions. This is thought to explain the deep oil observed under oil slicks from the IXTOC-I incident in the Gulf of Mexico. In addition, a simple model is devised to estimate the thickness and total volume of oil collected into windrows on the water surface. (Author)