Publication [J.11]
Zafeirakou, A, Palantzas, G., Samaras, A. and Koutitas, C. (2015). Oil spill modeling aiming at the protection of ports and coastal areas. Environmental Processes, 2 (1), pp.41-53, DOI. (PDF)
oil spills •• hydrodynamics •• ocean & coastal scale •• environmental protection
Abstract
Oil spill models are used worldwide to provide preventive measures in assessing risks of actual and potential damage to natural resources from spills, and also in assisting coastal facilities and local authorities in their strategic development of oil spill mitigation planning and response. Numerous oil spill simulation models exist in the bibliography. They vary in complexity, applicability to location and ease of use. A synoptic presentation of the types of oil slick models internationally applied in operational mode is done, focusing on the model developed by Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. The current study elaborates on that oil slick numerical model which simulates the transport and weathering (due to a number of physicochemical processes evolving with time) of an oil spill that accidentally occurred in a coastal area, coupled with a 3D hydrodynamic model. The model is applied in a semi-confined water body, namely Thermaikos Gulf, in N. Greece, which contains the Port of Thessaloniki, a potential source of accidentally spilled oil. Findings of the present study highlight the existing experience on the subject and denote the applicability of such models in either tracing the source of a spill or in predicting its path and spread, thus proving their value in real-time crisis management.
Oil spill models are used worldwide to provide preventive measures in assessing risks of actual and potential damage to natural resources from spills, and also in assisting coastal facilities and local authorities in their strategic development of oil spill mitigation planning and response. Numerous oil spill simulation models exist in the bibliography. They vary in complexity, applicability to location and ease of use. A synoptic presentation of the types of oil slick models internationally applied in operational mode is done, focusing on the model developed by Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. The current study elaborates on that oil slick numerical model which simulates the transport and weathering (due to a number of physicochemical processes evolving with time) of an oil spill that accidentally occurred in a coastal area, coupled with a 3D hydrodynamic model. The model is applied in a semi-confined water body, namely Thermaikos Gulf, in N. Greece, which contains the Port of Thessaloniki, a potential source of accidentally spilled oil. Findings of the present study highlight the existing experience on the subject and denote the applicability of such models in either tracing the source of a spill or in predicting its path and spread, thus proving their value in real-time crisis management.
Works that reference this work
[14] Roman, F. and Cavallaro, L. (2025). Numerical analysis of oil spill scenarios in harbour areas with an Eulerian approach: The Augusta case. Ocean Engineering, 318, 120130, DOI.
[13] Androulidakis, Y., Makris, C., Kombiadou, K., Krestenitis, Y., Stefanidou, N., Antoniadou, C., Krasakopoulou, E., Kalatzi, M.-I., Baltikas, V., Moustaka-Gouni, M. and Chintiroglou, C.C. (2024). Oceanographic Research in the Thermaikos Gulf: A Review over Five Decades. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 12 (5), 795, DOI.
[12] Lee, J. and Park, H. (2024). Prediction of the marine spreading of low sulfur fuel oil using the long short-term memory model trained with three-phase numerical simulations. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 202, 116356, DOI.
[11] Carmo, J.S.A.D. (2023). Living on the Coast in Harmony with Natural Processes. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 11 (11), 2113, DOI.
[10] Dąbrowska, E. (2023). Oil Discharge Trajectory Simulation at Selected Baltic Sea Waterway under Variability of Hydro-Meteorological Conditions. Water, 15 (10), 1957, DOI.
[09] Pradhan, B., Das, M. and Pradhan, C. (2022). Trajectory modelling for hypothetical oil spill in Odisha offshore, India. Journal of Earth System Science, 131 (4), pp.205, DOI.
[08] Wu, J., Wang, M., Ye, C.M., Xu, Z.H., Sha, C.Y., Zhang, J.Y. and Huang, S.F. (2020). Bibliometric Analysis of Research Hotspots Related to Marine Oil Spill Accidents in the Environmental Field Based on Web of Science. Journal of Forensic Medicine, 36 (4), pp.461-469, DOI.
[07] Magri, S., Quagliati, M., De Gaetano, P., Vairo, T. and Fabiano, B. (2019). Fuel spill after ship collision: Accident scenario modelling for emergency response. Chemical Engineering Transactions, 76, DOI.
[06] Marzooq, H., Naser, H.A. and Elkanzi, E.M. (2019). Quantifying exposure levels of coastal facilities to oil spills in Bahrain, Arabian Gulf. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 191 (3), 160, DOI.
[05] Spiggos, T. and Spiggou-Polyla, M. (2019). Impacts of a potential oil spill on the Western coast of Corfu Island. Safe Corfu 2019 Conference, Corfu, Greece, November 6-9, 2019. (Link)
[04] Zafirakou, A. (2019). Oil Spill Dispersion Forecasting Models. In: F. Houma (Ed.), Monitoring of Marine Pollution (pp.1-20). IntechOpen, DOI.
[03] Zafirakou, A., Themeli, S., Tsami, E. and Aretoulis, G. (2018). Multi-criteria analysis of different approaches to protect the marine and coastal environment from oil spills. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 6 (4), 125, DOI.
[02] Lisi, I., Risio, M.D., Girolamo, P.D. and Gabellini, M. (2016). Engineering Tools for the Estimation of Dredging-Induced Sediment Resuspension and Coastal Environmental Management. In: M. Marghany (Ed.), Applied Studies of Coastal and Marine Environments (pp.55-84). IntechOpen, DOI.
[01] Tsihrintzis, V.A. (2015). Editorial. Environmental Processes, 2 (1), pp.1-4, DOI.
[14] Roman, F. and Cavallaro, L. (2025). Numerical analysis of oil spill scenarios in harbour areas with an Eulerian approach: The Augusta case. Ocean Engineering, 318, 120130, DOI.
[13] Androulidakis, Y., Makris, C., Kombiadou, K., Krestenitis, Y., Stefanidou, N., Antoniadou, C., Krasakopoulou, E., Kalatzi, M.-I., Baltikas, V., Moustaka-Gouni, M. and Chintiroglou, C.C. (2024). Oceanographic Research in the Thermaikos Gulf: A Review over Five Decades. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 12 (5), 795, DOI.
[12] Lee, J. and Park, H. (2024). Prediction of the marine spreading of low sulfur fuel oil using the long short-term memory model trained with three-phase numerical simulations. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 202, 116356, DOI.
[11] Carmo, J.S.A.D. (2023). Living on the Coast in Harmony with Natural Processes. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 11 (11), 2113, DOI.
[10] Dąbrowska, E. (2023). Oil Discharge Trajectory Simulation at Selected Baltic Sea Waterway under Variability of Hydro-Meteorological Conditions. Water, 15 (10), 1957, DOI.
[09] Pradhan, B., Das, M. and Pradhan, C. (2022). Trajectory modelling for hypothetical oil spill in Odisha offshore, India. Journal of Earth System Science, 131 (4), pp.205, DOI.
[08] Wu, J., Wang, M., Ye, C.M., Xu, Z.H., Sha, C.Y., Zhang, J.Y. and Huang, S.F. (2020). Bibliometric Analysis of Research Hotspots Related to Marine Oil Spill Accidents in the Environmental Field Based on Web of Science. Journal of Forensic Medicine, 36 (4), pp.461-469, DOI.
[07] Magri, S., Quagliati, M., De Gaetano, P., Vairo, T. and Fabiano, B. (2019). Fuel spill after ship collision: Accident scenario modelling for emergency response. Chemical Engineering Transactions, 76, DOI.
[06] Marzooq, H., Naser, H.A. and Elkanzi, E.M. (2019). Quantifying exposure levels of coastal facilities to oil spills in Bahrain, Arabian Gulf. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 191 (3), 160, DOI.
[05] Spiggos, T. and Spiggou-Polyla, M. (2019). Impacts of a potential oil spill on the Western coast of Corfu Island. Safe Corfu 2019 Conference, Corfu, Greece, November 6-9, 2019. (Link)
[04] Zafirakou, A. (2019). Oil Spill Dispersion Forecasting Models. In: F. Houma (Ed.), Monitoring of Marine Pollution (pp.1-20). IntechOpen, DOI.
[03] Zafirakou, A., Themeli, S., Tsami, E. and Aretoulis, G. (2018). Multi-criteria analysis of different approaches to protect the marine and coastal environment from oil spills. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 6 (4), 125, DOI.
[02] Lisi, I., Risio, M.D., Girolamo, P.D. and Gabellini, M. (2016). Engineering Tools for the Estimation of Dredging-Induced Sediment Resuspension and Coastal Environmental Management. In: M. Marghany (Ed.), Applied Studies of Coastal and Marine Environments (pp.55-84). IntechOpen, DOI.
[01] Tsihrintzis, V.A. (2015). Editorial. Environmental Processes, 2 (1), pp.1-4, DOI.
Author's works that reference this work
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