Research Summaries

Back Advanced Research on Transport of Hydrocarbon in the Environment

Fiscal Year 2015
Division Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science
Department Oceanography
Investigator(s) MacMahan, James H.
Sponsor University of Miami (Other)
Summary University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS) has expertise in atmosphere and ocean dynamics, coupled atmosphere-wave-ocean modeling, air-sea interactions, ocean observations, tropical cyclones and oil fate/transport modeling.
The Naval Postgraduate School brings expertise nearshore observation techniques and broad experience in using the latest Lagrangian and Eulerian instrumentation to measure nearshore transport processes, as well as combining observations with process models.
The researches propose to apply a unified, multi-scale model suite, with observational and experimental components and quantified uncertainties to address the physical distribution, dispersion, and dilution of petroleum (oil and gas), its constituents, and associated contaminants (e.g. dispersants) under the action of physical oceanographic processes, air-sea interaction and tropical storms. The objective is to understand the cross-shore transport of material (i.e. oil) between the surf zone and inner-shelf, particularly around the Gulf States. Collaborators will collect field observations currently missing to explain the cross-transport, such that we can verify a model and theory, which can be used for prediction. The observations will focus on the vertical net transport and the horizontal transport.
To be able to accurately predict the fate of hydrocarbons released into the environment, guiding risk management and response efforts will minimize damage to human health, the economy, and the environment.
Keywords
Publications Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal
Data Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal