Evaluation of Satellite-Tracked Surface Drifting Buoys for Simulating the Movement of Spilled Oil in the Marine Environment. Volume 2. Final Report

摘要

The purpose of the study is to evaluate satellite-tracked surface drifters for use in simulating the movement of spilled crude oil and assessing the skill of the Oil Spill Risk Analysis (OSRA) model. Review of the oil spill literature since 1980 shows that the most significant advance relative to surface transport processes relates to the effect of temporary submergence and surface shear on the distribution of oil behind the downwind leading edge of a surface slick. Dynamic analyses of three basic buoy shapes, the sphere, the spar or cylinder, and the disk or flattened spheroid, were undertaken using a numerical model. The results suggest that, two existing drifters, a sphere and a disk, represent the most promising available surface drifters for simulating the movement of spilled crude oil.