Numerical simulation of oil spills based on  the GNOME and ADIOS

The Exxon Valdez oil spill emergency has shown that simulation of oil spills trajectory is the main action in planning response measures. Modeling the trajectory of the oil slick allows predicting in advance the direction of the motion of the stain, the time it will take to reach the shore and assess the possible environmental consequences for the contaminated coastal zone. In this paper, the Exxon Valdez oil spill trajectory was analyzed using two different models, the GNOME model and the HAZAT trajectory model. Conclusions are drawn about the reasons for the differences in the results provided by the two models. The accuracy of the simulation is strongly related to the input of geographic and meteorological data. In addition, ADIOS software was used to predict the weathering process of the modeled emergency event. It was found that the main factors influencing the change in the physical and chemical characteristics of oil dispersed in the water body are the wind speed and direction, water temperature and wave height.

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Fish and Wildlife Recovery Following the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings ◽

10.7901/2169-3358-1999-1-127 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 1999 (1) ◽

pp. 127-133

Author(s):

John A. Wiens ◽

Ernest L. Brannon ◽

David L. Garshelis ◽

John Burns ◽

Anne A. Hoover-Miller ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oil Spill ◽

Oil Spills ◽

Pink Salmon ◽

Natural Variability ◽

Harbor Seals ◽

Exxon Valdez ◽

Sea Otters ◽

Seabird Species ◽

Exxon Valdez Oil Spill ◽

Habitat Occupancy

ABSTRACT The authors review studies of four taxa—pink salmon, sea otters, harbor seals, and several species of sea-birds—widely believed to have suffered severe impacts from the Exxon Valdez oil spill. These studies were conducted over a 10-year post-spill period and included pre-spill information where possible. They demonstrated earlier suggestions of negative impacts may have been unfounded (harbor seals) or the species either exhibited no obvious detrimental effects from the spill (pink salmon population runs, population density and habitat occupancy of half the 23 seabird species examined) or indicated impacts followed by clear evidence of subsequent recovery (sea otters, the remaining seabird species). These species' apparent resilience to perturbations such as oil spills may be related to these ecosystems' high natural variability. Evaluating spill effects is enhanced by long-term studies that recognize the natural variability of marine environments and use a rigorous study design. The results of such studies also must be interpreted objectively, free of preconceptions about spill effects and divorced from advocacy positions.

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Overview of Bird Search and Rescue and Response Efforts During the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings ◽

10.7901/2169-3358-1991-1-225 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 1991 (1) ◽

pp. 225-228 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jay Holcomb

Keyword(s):

Oil Spill ◽

Oil Spills ◽

Search And Rescue ◽

Prince William Sound ◽

Exxon Valdez ◽

Home Base ◽

Exxon Valdez Oil Spill ◽

Care Services ◽

Rehabilitation Centers ◽

Initial Care

ABSTRACT The Exxon Valdez oil spill presented the International Bird Rescue Research Center with a variety of unique and unprecedented challenges. One was the development and management of two search and rescue programs: one in Prince William Sound, with the home base being Valdez, and the other along the Kenai Peninsula, with Seward as home base. Local fishing boats, float planes, and personnel were organized to create two functional search and rescue fleets that combed about 900 miles of coastline in search of live oiled birds and oiled carcasses. This effort resulted in the capture of 1,630 live oiled birds and the recovery of thousands of dead oiled birds and mammals. During most oil spills only one oiled bird rehabilitation center is needed to care for all the affected birds. Strong currents began moving oil out of Prince William Sound and north along the Alaskan coastline. At the same time, public pressure to save the victims of the spill increased. It became evident that animal care services in even the most remote areas needed to be developed. Four oiled bird care centers and four search and rescue programs were strategically located near the most heavily affected areas to care for live oiled animals. This paper focuses on how both of the oiled bird search and rescue programs were created and functioned throughout the six-month-long oiled bird rescue and rehabilitation effort. It emphasizes the chronology of planning and decision-making processes during this crisis. Further discussion highlights how the search and rescue fleets coordinated their efforts with the rehabilitation centers for the greatest effectiveness. The paper also discusses the capture and safety techniques used during the actual pursuit of animals and the initial care and transportation of captured birds.

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Herring and the “Exxon Valdez” oil spill: an investigation into historical data conflicts

ICES Journal of Marine Science ◽

10.1093/icesjms/fsm176 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 65 (1) ◽

pp. 44-50 ◽

Cited By ~ 47

Author(s):

Richard E. Thorne ◽

Gary L. Thomas

Keyword(s):

Oil Spill ◽

Historical Data ◽

Oil Spills ◽

Management Approach ◽

Eumetopias Jubatus ◽

Exxon Valdez ◽

Exxon Valdez Oil Spill ◽

Clupea Pallasi ◽

Sea Lions ◽

Comprehensive Management

Abstract Thorne, R. E., and Thomas, G. L. 2008. Herring and the "Exxon Valdez" oil spill: an investigation into historical data conflicts. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 65: 44–50. It was generally believed that the 1989 “Exxon Valdez” oil spill did not cause the collapse of the Prince William Sound Pacific herring (Clupea pallasi) population because of a 4-year gap between the spill and the collapse. However, we noted in a previous paper that some data suggested an earlier timing for the herring decline. We examine historical patterns of herring spawn, anomalies in historical fisheries model predictions, changes in predation behaviour of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus), and a decadal database of acoustic measurements of herring biomass. Behaviour of adult herring makes them especially vulnerable to damage from oil spills, something that was either unknown or misunderstood at the time of the spill. We therefore argue that the start of the herring decline was coincident with the oil spill, and that the decline took place over a 5-year period, rather than the single-year collapse previously reported. Although a comprehensive management approach is now in use for herring, the tools were not in place at the time of the oil spill or the subsequent collapse.

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Profiles of Fecal Porphyrins in River Otters Following the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

Marine Pollution Bulletin ◽

10.1016/s0025-326x(00)00073-4 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 40 (12) ◽

pp. 1132-1138 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Christopher Taylor ◽

Lawrence K Duffy ◽

R Terry Bowyer ◽

Gail M Blundell

Keyword(s):

Oil Spill ◽

Exxon Valdez ◽

Exxon Valdez Oil Spill ◽

River Otters

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Sublethal effects of the (Exxon Valdez) oil spill on herring embryos and larvae: morphological, cytogenetic, and histopathological assessments, 19891991

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f96-174 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 53 (10) ◽

pp. 2355-2365 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

J E Hose ◽

M D McGurk ◽

G D Marty ◽

D E Hinton ◽

E D Brown ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oil Spill ◽

Sublethal Effects ◽

Exxon Valdez ◽

Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

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EFFORT TO RESCUE OTTERS AFTER SPILL IS IN DISPUTE

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.88.3.661 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 88 (3) ◽

pp. 661-661

Author(s):

J. F. L.

Keyword(s):

Crude Oil ◽

Oil Spill ◽

Preliminary Data ◽

Scientific Information ◽

Research Projects ◽

Exxon Valdez ◽

Sea Otters ◽

Exxon Valdez Oil Spill ◽

Rehabilitation Centers ◽

Government Contract

ANCHORAGE, April 20—Sea otters rescued from waters fouled by the Exxon Valdez oil spill fared poorly after their return to the wild last fall, and scientists working under Government contract say at least half may have perished over the winter. Nearly 900 dead otters were found after the tanker spilled almost 11 million gallons of crude oil in March 1989. An additional 360 were netted alive and brought to rehabilitation centers at Valdez, Seward, Homer and Kodiak. About 200 were later returned to Prince William Sound but some scientists say that as many as half may have perished and that the rehabilitation effort has been largely futile... The withholding of scientific information on the spill for legal reasons by all the parties is becoming a major source of controversy as research projects begin to generate at least preliminary data.

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