Multidisciplinary oil spill modeling to protect coastal communities and the environment of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea

Alves, Tiago Marcos ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2765-3760, Kokinou, Eleni, Zodiatis, George, Radhakrishnan, Hari, Panagiotakis, Costas and Lardner, Robin 2016. Multidisciplinary oil spill modeling to protect coastal communities and the environment of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Scientific Reports 6 , 36882. 10.1038/srep36882

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Abstract

We present new mathematical and geological models to assist civil protection authorities in the mitigation of potential oil spill accidents in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Oil spill simulations for 19 existing offshore wells were carried out based on novel and high resolution bathymetric, meteorological, oceanographic, and geomorphological data. The simulations show a trend for east and northeast movement of oil spills into the Levantine Basin, affecting the coastal areas of Israel, Lebanon and Syria. Oil slicks will reach the coast in 1 to 20 days, driven by the action of the winds, currents and waves. By applying a qualitative analysis, seabed morphology is for the first time related to the direction of the oil slick expansion, as it is able to alter the movement of sea currents. Specifically, the direction of the major axis of the oil spills, in most of the cases examined, is oriented according to the prevailing azimuth of bathymetric features. This work suggests that oil spills in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea should be mitigated in the very few hours after their onset, and before wind and currents disperse them. We explain that protocols should be prioritized between neighboring countries to mitigate any oil spills.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	Published
Schools:	Earth and Environmental Sciences
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences Q Science > QE Geology
Publisher:	Nature Publishing Group
ISSN:	2045-2322
Funders:	European Commission
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	10 November 2016
Date of Acceptance:	21 October 2016
Last Modified:	04 May 2023 04:33
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/96007

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