Abstract:
One of the key parameters that has been identified
to affect the accuracy of the oil spreading calculations from ocean
oil spill models is the oil Droplet Size Distribution (DSD). The
oil droplet dynamics in the water column plays a critical role
in oil spreading and subsequent oil weathering processes. Thus,
accounting for the droplet dynamics under wave conditions is a
critical issue in ocean oil spreading models. In this regard, droplet
dynamic models have shown promising results. In the present
study, a phenomenological droplet dynamic model is employed
to analyse the impact of wave parameters and oil properties on
the developed oil DSD. The model results confirm the capability
of the phenomenological models to calculate the evolution of oil
DSD under breaking wave conditions, which is an advantage
over equilibrium models. The model was used to analyse how the
developed droplet sizes vary with different breaking wave heights,
oil types, and differently weathered oils. The model results show
that increasing breaking wave height results in a shift of oil DSD
towards smaller droplet sizes, however the impact of oil viscosity
is comparatively less for the selected range of oils.
