Oil spill trajectory modelling and environmental vulnerability mapping using GNOME model and GIS

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Marine Biology
• Coastal Management

Background:

• Oil spills pose significant threats to coastal ecosystems and economies.
• Understanding seasonal variations is crucial for effective oil spill response planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an oil spill environmental vulnerability model for Kota Tinggi, Malaysia.
• To assess the impact of seasonal variations on coastal resource vulnerability to oil spills.
• To map oil slick trajectory patterns under different climatic seasons.

Main Methods:

• Simulated twelve 100 m³ medium oil spill scenarios using the General National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Operational Oil Modeling Environment (GNOME) model.
• Integrated model outputs with biological, socio-economic, and physical shoreline resources.
• Estimated coastal resource quantities affected across three climatic seasons: northeast monsoon, southwest monsoon, and pre-monsoon.

Main Results:

• Oil slick speed varied by season, being fastest (40.8 m/min) southwestward during the pre-monsoon and slowest (36.9 m/min) during the northeast monsoon.
• Major weathering processes included evaporation, floating, and spreading, with ~70% of oil reaching shore or water column within 24 hours.
• Oil spill impacts were most severe during the southwest monsoon, with physical shoreline resources being the most vulnerable.

Conclusions:

• Climatic season variations significantly influence coastal resource vulnerability to marine oil spills.
• Physical shoreline features are the most susceptible to oil spill damage in the study area.
• The developed model provides critical insights for regional oil spill preparedness and response.