Simulation of Oil Slick Movement under Strong Tidal Condition Using Adaptive Wind Drift Factor: Hebei Spirit Oil Spill Case

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to simulate the oil slick movement under strong tidal conditions using adaptive wind drift factor in the western coastal area of Korea for the Hebei Spirit oil spill accident in 2007. The movement of oil slicks was computed using a simple simulation model as a function of surface current, wind speed, and the adaptive wind drift factor. For the simulation, the Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code (EFDC) model and Automatic Weather System (AWS) were used to generate tidal and wind fields respectively. Simulation results were then compared with 5 sets of spaceborne optical and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data. From the present study, it was found that highest correlation between the simulation results and satellite imagery was obtained with different values of the wind drift factor, and to first order, this factor was linearly proportional to the wind speed. Based on the results, a new modified empirical formula was proposed for forecasting the movement of oil slicks on the coastal area.was computed using a simple simulation model as a function of surface current, wind speed, and the adaptive wind drift factor. For the simulation, the Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code (EFDC) model and Automatic Weather System (AWS) were used to generate tidal and wind fields respectively. Simulation results were then compared with 5 sets of spaceborne optical and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data. From the present study, it was found that highest correlation between the simulation results and satellite imagery was obtained with different values of the wind drift factor, and to first order, this factor was linearly proportional to the wind speed. Based on the results, a new modified empirical formula was proposed for forecasting the movement of oil slicks on the coastal area.