Assessment of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf Environmental Studies Program I. Physical Oceanography (1990) / Chapter Skim
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Conclusions and Recommendations
Conclusions and Recommendations
Pages 95-106
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From page 95... ...
A review of the state of knowledge of the physical oceanography of each of the ESP regions, based on all available sources; and 4. An evaluation of the adequacy and applicability of each of the ESP regional physical oceanography programs and the Washington office generic studies program, as measured by (a)
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From page 96... ...
In present usage, physical oceanographic input to the OSRA model is provided through the predictions of regional circulation models for all of the regions. These predictions have been provided in the form of mean climatological flows over various time scales at spatial resolutions of typically 15 to 30 km, with the principal forcings being the mean density field and the seasonal mean wind stress.
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From page 97... ...
Trajectory predictions or estimations of trajectory statistics realistic for use in risk analysis or in accident management cannot be obtained without new fieldwork, including drifter studies. Although these observations ultimately might help the development of circulation models and it is hoped that they will be in quantitative agreement with existing data MMS's immediate priority should be to take more field observations and to incorporate them into trajectory predictions.
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From page 98... ...
In addition, surface convergences associated with internal waves concentrate buoyant material quite effectively. The importance of these smaller-scale processes for the motion of oil spills needs to be investigated, especially near shore.
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From page 99... ...
This is certainly the case in the presence of strong horizontal gradients in velocity, but the problem also may depend on season and location in some unknown way. Since oil spills are inherently Lagrangian, whereas the circulation fields used as input to the OSRA model are Eulerian, the problem is of direct relevance for spill trajectory calculations.
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From page 100... ...
Large interannual variability associated with ENSO events has also been observed. Sea ice and interannual variability combine in the Bering Sea to create a large interannual and seasonal variability in ice cover, temperature, and winds.
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From page 101... ...
The recent Alaska region modeling efforts have incorporated improved techniques, especially with regard to use of temporally and spatially varying wind fields that are consistent between the hydrodynamic model and the spill trajectory model; this is due partially to the practice of the contractor performing spill trajectory calculations.
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From page 102... ...
The Minerals Management Service should support continuing research on relevant physical oceanographic and meteorological processes anti features that are poorly understood, poorly parameterized in existing models, or poorly represented by e~cistiI'g modeling methodology. Improvements should continue to be incorporated into the OSRA model.
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From page 103... ...
h. MMS's study of the use of drifters to represent oil spills should be extended to actual field trials in varied areas of the OCS, and similar regions worldwide as the opportunities occur.
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From page 104... ...
MMS has adopted a de facto procedure of using hydrodynamic model simulation results to describe the current fields for input to oil-spill-trajectory calculations. Unfortunately, this strategy has ignored the extensive data collected in physical oceanographic field programs and the subsequent analysis and interpretation of that information.
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From page 105... ...
f. The Minerals Management Service should strengthen its ability to respond scientifically to accidental oil spills, such as the Exxon Valdez spill.
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From page 106... ...
OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF c. MMS's cooperation with other agencies is commended.
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