Spreading of oil slicks in a wind-wave channel. Completion report Jan 75--Sep 77

Technical Report · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977

OSTI ID:6870027

Lin, J D; Campbell, G S

Drift velocities of surface films floating on the water surface under the action of wind-generated waves and mechanically generated waves were investigated in a laboratory wind-wave channel by using polyethylene sheets. In order to simulate the drift of oil slicks in a laboratory channel, the size of the film should be greater than two wavelengths for wind-waves and one wave-length for mechanically generated waves. Film drift velocity over wind-generated waves is a function of wind velocity and wave steepness. However, the ratio of drift velocity to shear velocity of the air boundary layer correlates uniquely with wave steepness and becomes independent of wave steepness for sufficiently large wave steepness. For mechanically generated waves, film drift velocity is substantially greater than the surface particle drift of the Stokes waves. In comparison of the drift velocities in a wave field characterized by wave steepness, the effect of wind on drift velocity of surface films predominates in general over that due to waves. Experiments of oil films under the action of wind-generated waves were also carried out in the wind-wave channel. Drift velocities of oil slicks are initially influenced by the size of oil volume due to the asymmetrical spreading in the direction of winds; however, they approach the values of film drift velocities as the fetch increases downwind.

• Research Organization: Connecticut Univ., Storrs (USA). Inst. of Water Resources
• OSTI ID: 6870027
• Report Number(s): PB-277486
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020900* -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
520200 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
DIFFUSION
OIL SPILLS
POLLUTION
VELOCITY
WATER POLLUTION
WATER WAVES
WIND