Development of an Arctic oil spill calculator to charactarize the fate and transport of oil released in the Arctic ocean

During an oil spill, an accurate assessment of the trajectory of oil is important for a quick and effective remediation response. In the remote Arctic, oil fate and transport models are critical; especially during winter months when darkness and ice presence hamper visual detection of oil. A set of equations to describe the transport of oil in ice-covered waters and an environmental database were utilized to create an Arctic Oil Spill Calculator (AOSC). The AOSC determines the movement and spreading of oil released in Arctic waters, whether it is released near the surface (e.g., due to a ship grounding) or whether it is released under the ice (e.g., due to a well blowout or a pipeline rupture).