Oil spill modelling in tidal sea of complicated geometry: “Hebei Spirit (Yellow Sea, 2007) case study

Abstract

The modelling system for oil spills consists of the oil spill model, circulation and wave forecast models. Oil spill model is a Lagrangian model that describes transport and weathering processes in five interactive phases: oil-on-surface, oil-in-water, oil-on-suspended sediments, oil-on-bottom and oil-at-shoreline. A novel algorithm based on Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics was developed for slick spreading. The regional circulation model ROMS was used for forecast of currents in the East/Japan Sea, Yellow and East-China seas. High resolution model SELFE was applied for the Yellow Sea. The wave forecast model WAVEWATCH III and Lagrangian sediment transport model was used in the Yellow Sea. The case study of “Hebei Spirit” spill was considered in which about 10,800 tons were released near the west coast of the Korea in December 2007. The comparison of satellite images ENVISAT with simulation showed quite well agreement. The simulations showed that even in the conditions of domination of tidal currents the wind and Stokes drifts play important role in the oil spill propagation. Therefore accurate prediction of the currents and waves is crucial for oil spill response actions.ace, oil-in-water, oil-on-suspended sediments, oil-on-bottom and oil-at-shoreline. A novel algorithm based on Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics was developed for slick spreading. The regional circulation model ROMS was used for forecast of currents in the East/Japan Sea, Yellow and East-China seas. High resolution model SELFE was applied for the Yellow Sea. The wave forecast model WAVEWATCH III and Lagrangian sediment transport model was used in the Yellow Sea. The case study of “Hebei Spirit” spill was considered in which about 10,800 tons were released near the west coast of the Korea in December 2007. The comparison of satellite images ENVISAT with simulation showed quite well agreement. The simulations showed that even in the conditions of domination