Modeling the effects of physical parameters and seasonal conditions on the fate of spilled oil in the Persian Gulf.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Faculty of Marine and Ocean Sciences, Khorramshahr University of Marine Sciences and Technologies

2 Graduate Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran

3 Faculty of Marine Science, Khorramshahr University of Marine Science and Technology

Abstract

Pollution from oil spills in the Persian Gulf seems inevitable despite the huge volume of oil production and transportation. The environmental conditions and the type of oil can affect the fate and transport of spilled oil. Therefore, the aim of this study is to develop an oil spill model to predict the effects of seasonal conditions and physical parameters on the path and fate of spilled oil in the Persian Gulf. First, the new version of COHERENS model is developed with Appling the most accurate bathymetry data and forces with high temporal resolution and spatial resolution in the Persian Gulf. Then the current, temperature and salinity data of the mentioned model and the wind field from ECMWF database were used in the OSCAR oil spill model. The results of the model showed that the combination of these two models is a very powerful tool for predicting the fate and transport of the oil spills in the Persian Gulf. Furthermore, the summer result noted that due to the decrease in wind speed, turbulence, increased stability and stratification, oil spill may move toward shore lines and the penetration of particles in depth decreases.

Keywords