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Evaluation of satellite-tracked surface drifting buoys for simulating the movement of spilled oil in the marine environment. Volume 2. Final report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6818233
The purpose of this 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.
Research Organization:
Applied Science Associates, Inc., Narragansett, RI (USA)
OSTI ID:
6818233
Report Number(s):
PB-88-226055/XAB
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English