Oil pollution in the Persian Gulf and approaches, 1978

Vessel reports of oil slicks in the Persian Gulf and approaches during 1978 show an increase in number and percentage of positive reports towards the Strait of Hormuz. Pronounced seasonal variations in slick characteristics include an increase in number, size and areal coverage during winter, but an increase in thickness of slicks in summer. High solar radiation enhances photolysis, evaporation, solution and bacterial degradation of oil. Slick dispersal patterns agreed with prevailing wind and surface current circulation. Most slicks appeared to represent separate events. Of the ten major slicks, which were all ‘thin’, seven were reported by two out of 84 vessels. Collectively, they contained 73% of all oil in 139 reported slicks. Using an average of 13 μm for the thickness of ‘thin’ slicks, the largest slick contained more than 54 000 m³, and all slicks combined totaled 160 000 m³. Two independent alternate estimates confirm this computation within 10%.     

Large-scale dispersant leaching and effectiveness experiments with oils on calm water

The use of dispersants to treat oil spills in calm seas is discouraged because there is insufficient ‘mixing energy’ to cause immediate dispersion of the oil. However, dispersants might be applied while the seas are calm, in the expectation that they would work later when sea states increase. The present study examined the persistence of dispersants in treated oil slicks on calm water in a large outdoor wave tank. Test slicks, pre-mixed with dispersant, were allowed to stand on static and flowing water for up to six days, after which their dispersibility was tested by exposing them to breaking waves. Results showed that thicker slicks exposed to calm water for up to six days dispersed completely with the addition of breaking waves. Thinner slicks and slicks exposed to water movement became less dispersible within two days. The loss of dispersibility was caused by dispersant loss rather than by oil weathering.     

Aerial application of dispersants in Bantry Bay following the Betelgeuse incident

For the first time during a significant oil spill, aircraft were used in preference to surface vessels to apply chemical dispersants, following the tragic accident to the French registered tanker in Bantry Bay, south-west Eire. In this particular case, with an ideally situated landing strip, close to the source of the spill of fresh crude oil, the response proved to be highly effective and prevented the vast majority of the oil lost after the 6th day from reaching the nearby shorelines. The ability of the pilot of the spray aircraft to rapidly locate and to select for treatment only those slicks or parts of slicks posing a significant threat also resulted in the minimum amount of dispersant being used to maximum effect.     

Calculation of oil concentrations under chemically dispersed slicks

Equations are proposed which describe the diffusion of a plume of oil from chemically dispersed oil slicks into the oceanic water column and which yield estimates of oil concentration as a function of the volume of oil dispersed, time-varying plume area, depth, time, and as a function of a single adjustable parameter, vertical diffusivity. A ‘diffusion floor’ at any desired depth may be included. Experimental data were fitted to the equations to yield an estimate of this diffusivity. It is concluded that oil concentrations can be estimated with a mean error of a factor of three, this high value being attributable to the inherently variable nature of the oceanic diffusion processes. Implications for assessing the toxic effects of dispersed slicks are discussed. It may be possible to calculate acute median lethal water depths and volumes for given organisms subjected to given dispersed oil slicks.     

Damping characteristics of gravity waves obliquely incident on a monomolecular film: Part II

Calculations of viscous damping chracteristics of gravity waves, propagating obliquely across finite monomolecular films, are represented graphically to demonstrate the influence of angle of incidence, film edges, and surfactant properties. It is found that regions of negative damping may occur, particularly towards the rear of extensible slicks. For wide slicks, both the amplitude and the domain of significant edge effects on the local damping coefficient decrease with angle of incidence. Multiple-slick systems can damp waves more effectively—with appropriate choice of surface-active material—than an equivalent single slick.     

Observations on surface pollution in the Indian Ocean and South China Sea during the Sindbad Voyage (1980–1981)

Analysis of 159 visual observations on tar balls, oil slicks and other surface pollutants in the Indian Ocean and South China Sea form the basis of this study. Observations were made between November 1980 and June 1981 aboard a replica of an ancient Arab sailing vessel, Sohar, during the ‘Sindbad Voyage’. The vessel, being both small and slow-moving, provided an almost ideal platform from which to make visual observations on surface pollution. Tar balls were encountered in more than 20% of the observations, and show a progressive increase in occurrence from Malaysia/Indonesia (<15%) towards the Gulf region (>60%). In contrast, oil slicks and other forms of surface pollution were encountered less frequently. The results are discussed in the light of observations made during the Marine Pollution [Petroleum] Monitoring Pilot Project (MAPMOPP).     

Use of sorbents for oil spills

It is generally acknowledged that removing spilled oil from the sea is preferable to dispersing it, but there have been severe problems in devising methods of collecting oil from thin slicks. In this article the merits of various methods of absorbing spilled oil are reviewed.     

Coastal upwelling observed by multi-satellite sensors

Coastal upwelling phenomenon along the China coast in the Yellow Sea during August 2007 is studied using ENVISAT Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR) data, NOAA Advanced AVHRR series Sea Surface Temperature (SST) data, and NASA QuikSCAT Scatterometer ocean surface wind data. A dark pattern in an ASAR image is interpreted as coastal upwelling. This is because the natural biogenic slicks associated with coastal upwelling damp the Bragg waves on the sea surface and thus make the surface smoother. Most of the incoming radar energy is reflected in the forward direction. As a result, the radar backscatter signal is very weak. Analyzing the concurrent AVHRR SST image, we find that the dark pattern in the ASAR image is indeed corresponding to the low SST area. The wind retrieval in the slicks dominant region is biased due to the low Normalised Radar Cross Section (NRCS) associated with the coastal upwelling. We applied a SST correction to the NRCS values to improve the accuracy of wind retrieval from ASAR data.     

Dynamics of Microbiological Contamination at a Marine Recreational Site

Levels of bacterial indicators of pollution are related with marine salinity and turbidity at both high tide (HT) and low tide (LT). The salinity varied from values around 26.9 ppm at the LT and 28.6 ppm at the high tide but affected total and faecal coliform (FC) estimates. Salinity readings of 25–30 ppm produced microbial counts below 10⁻² MPN/100 ml total coliforms (TCs) whereas salinity of 15–22 ppm produced a TC level of 4.6×10⁻⁴ MPN/100 ml. Turbidity peaks in the samples are accompanied by peaks of microbial contamination of the seawater indicating that the contamination is normally deposited at the marine sediment rather than in the water column. In fact, samples collected under heavy stormy weather, in which the water agitation resulted in turbidity values up to 68.3 NTU, produced maximum microbial counts.     

Effect of bioemulsificant exopolysaccharide (EPS2003) on microbial community dynamics during assays of oil spill bioremediation: A microcosm study

Microcosms experiments were carried out to evaluate the effect of bioemulsificant exopolysaccharide (EPS₂₀₀₃) on microbial community dynamics. An experimental seawater microcosm, supplemented with crude oil and EPS₂₀₀₃ (SW + OIL + EPS₂₀₀₃), was monitored for 15 days and compared to control microcosm (only oil-polluted seawater, SW + OIL). Determination of bacterial abundance, heterotrophic cultivable and hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria were carried out during all experimentation period. The microbial community dynamic was monitored by isolation of total RNA, RT-PCR amplification of 16S rRNA, cloning and sequencing. Oil degradation was monitored by GC–MS analysis. Bioemulsificant addition stimulated an increase of the total bacterial abundance, change in the community structure and activity. The bioemulsificant also increased of 5 times the oil biodegradation rate.The data obtained from microcosm experiment indicated that EPS₂₀₀₃ could be used for the dispersion of oil slicks and could stimulate the selection of marine hydrocarbon degraders thus increasing bioremediation process.     

Sq内外源电流体系中国地区变化特征

利用球冠谐分析法对2009年我国35个绝对观测地磁台站的Sq太阳静日变化进行内外源场分离,反演得到三个劳埃德季节(冬季D,分点E,夏季J)相应的内、外源等效电流体系,结果表明Sq外源电流体系在该区域D、E、J三个季节的电流涡中心强度分别为56.2 kA、137.7 kA、137.9 kA,电流涡中心位置的地方时由冬季的1124LT前移至夏季的约1030LT;Sq内源电流体系在该区域D、E、J三个季节的电流涡中心强度分别为21.1 kA、63.4 kA、72.7 kA,电流涡中心位置的地方时由冬季的1100LT前移至夏季的约1000LT.     

Diurnal and Longitudinal Variations of the Structure of an Equatorial Anomaly During Equinoxes According to Intercosmos-19 Satellite Data

Longitudinal and local time variations in the structure of the equatorial anomaly under high solar activity in the equinox are considered according to the Intercosmos-19 topside sounding data. It is shown that the anomaly begins to form at 0800 LT, when the southern crest is formed. The development of the equatorial anomaly is associated with well-known variations in the equatorial ionosphere: a change in the direction of the electric field from the west to the east, which causes vertical plasma drift W (directed upward) and the fountain effect. At 1000 LT, both anomaly crests appear, but they become completely symmetrical only by 1400 LT. The average position of the crests increases from I = 20° at 1000 LT to I = 28° at 1400 LT. The position of the crests is quite strong, sometimes up to 15°, varies with longitude. The foF2 value above the equator and the equatorial anomaly intensity (EAI) at 1200–1400 LT vary with the longitude according to changes in the vertical plasma drift velocity W. At this time, four harmonics are observed in the longitudinal variations of W, foF2, and EAI. The equatorial anomaly intensity increases to the maximum 1.5–2 h after the evening burst in the vertical plasma drift velocity. Longitudinal variations of foF2 for 2000–2200 LT are also associated with corresponding variations in the vertical plasma drift velocity. The equatorial anomaly intensity decreases after the maximum at 2000 LT and the crests decrease in size and shift towards the equator, but the anomaly is well developed at midnight. On the contrary, after midnight, foF2 maxima in the region of the anomaly crests are farther from the equator, but this is obviously associated with the action of the neutral wind. At 0200 LT, in contrast to the morning hours, only the northern crest of the anomaly is clearly pronounced. Thus, in the case of high solar activity during the equinoxes, a well-defined equatorial anomaly is observed from 1000 to 2400 LT. It reaches the maximum at 2000 LT.     

基于IGS台网观测的2001—2008年赤道电离异常的强度和半球不对称特征

赤道电离异常（Equatorial Ionization Anomaly,EIA）是低纬电离层中的一个重要现象.本文基于IGS台网提供的2001—2008年期间的电离层总电子含量（Total Electron Content,TEC）数据,分析了120°E区的EIA强度和磁南北半球不对称性在磁平静时期的变化特征,包括对地方时、季节和太阳活动的依赖.本文结果表明,（1） EIA强度表现出显著的随地方时和季节的变化特征.EIA强度在0200LT和2000LT附近分别出现一个极值,且2000LT附近的EIA强度更大;EIA强度通常在春/秋季较大,在夏/冬季较小,且冬季要大于夏季.（2） EIA南北半球不对称也表现出随地方时和季节变化特征.EIA半球不对称在0200LT和2000-2200LT附近分别出现一个极值;EIA半球不对称的季节变化特征还依赖于太阳活动,太阳活动高年期间,EIA半球不对称通常在春/秋季更显著;太阳活动低年期间,EIA半球不对称通常在冬季更显著.（3） EIA强度和半球不对称性的逐日变化和月变化表现出对太阳活动存在一定的依赖,但依赖性并不显著.2000LT （0200LT）附近的EIA强度的月变化与太阳活动整体呈正（负）相关,而2200LT （0200LT）附近的EIA半球不对称的月变化与太阳活动整体呈负（负）相关.（4）影响EIA强度变化的主要因素可归于纬圈电场和中性风场;影响EIA半球不对称变化的主要因素可归因为子午中性风场.     

海原断裂带刺儿沟剖面烘烤次生黄土的光释光测年及其地质意义

选择海原活动断裂带刺儿沟剖面2个烘烤次生黄土样品LEDL0588H和LEDL0365的细颗粒石英,采用改进后的单测片再生法(SAR)和简单多测片再生剂量法(SMAR)进行了一系列实验研究。2个样品细颗粒石英的光释光信号均以快速组分为主,其等效剂量(DE)的预热坪实验表明,在180～260℃的预热温度范围内均能获得基本一致的DE值。SAR法测量不同预热温度下的释光感量变化、剂量恢复实验和LN/TN比值的关系以及SMAR法测量中LN/TN比值与预热温度的关系的研究表明,文中所采用的流程能有效地校正测量过程中释光信号感量变化。2种方法均适用于采自不同层位的2个烘烤样品细颗粒石英的OSL测年,并获得了非常接近的OSL年龄。2个样品最后一次被烘烤的时间可能代表的是同一时期的人类活动     

Present state of oil pollution in the northern Indian Ocean

A consolidated picture of oil pollution for the northern Indian Ocean is presented. Oil slicks were sighted on 5582 observations, about 83.5% of the total observations of 6689. The range of concentrations, of the floating tar balls, is 0–6.0 mg/m² in the Arabian Sea. Similarly, the oil tanker route in the Bay of Bengal has the range of 0–69.75 mg/m². North of this route, the Bay of Bengal is comparatively free from this floating tar. Mean concentrations of dissolved and dispersed hydrocarbons for 0–20 m are 32.5 and 24.1 μg kg^?1, respectively, in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.     

Simulating the migration of drifters deployed in the Bay of Biscay, during the Prestige crisis

A main conclusion following the oil spill from the Prestige tanker was that improvements in ocean circulation models were necessary; this was in order to predict, more accurately, the trajectories followed by the oil slicks and hence assist in fight against oil pollution operations. In this contribution, the results of the validation of a semi-empirical ocean circulation model, parameterised for the Bay of Biscay and forced with operational oceano-meteorological remote sensing observations, are shown. The model results have been validated with observations from drifting buoys, deployed in the Bay of Biscay during the crisis. The results show that the model explains a relatively large percentage of the current variability. The comparisons between the real and the estimated drifter trajectories indicate that for 3, 5 and 7 day-long trajectories, the drifter position is estimated with errors of approximately 23, 35 and 46km, respectively. The model reproduces relatively well the trajectory followed by the drifter with the shortest period (23 days).     

Development of airborne oil thickness measurements

A laboratory sensor has now been developed to measure the absolute thickness of oil on water slicks. This prototype oil slick thickness measurement system is known as the laser-ultrasonic remote sensing of oil thickness (LURSOT) sensor. This laser opto-acoustic sensor is the initial step in the ultimate goal of providing an airborne sensor with the ability to remotely measure oil-on-water slick thickness. The LURSOT sensor employs three lasers to produce and measure the time-of-flight of ultrasonic waves in oil and hence provide a direct measurement of oil slick thickness. The successful application of this technology to the measurement of oil slick thickness will benefit the scientific community as a whole by providing information about the dynamics of oil slick spreading and the spill responder by providing a measurement of the effectiveness of spill countermeasures such as dispersant application and in situ burning.

This paper will provide a review of early developments and discuss the current state-of-the-art in the field of oil slick thickness measurement.     

土星千米波辐射源及磁层内磁力线弯曲

本文提出一个模型,通过此模型得到土星千米波辐射源（Saturn's Kilometric Radiation Source）的分布.这个模型就是：磁层顶的开尔文-亥姆霍兹不稳定性（Kelvin Helmholtz Instability）会导致阿尔芬波沿着弯曲的磁力线传播到土星极区附近,并在这个过程中使土星电离层附近（1Rs高度,Rs为土星半径)的粒子加速沉降,发生回旋不稳定性（Cyclotron Maser Instability）,进而产生R-X模式辐射的非寻常波（Extraordinary wave）.我们认为,极区发生回旋不稳定性的区域就是土星千米波辐射源的区域.本文求出了磁层顶附近开尔文-亥姆霍兹不稳定性发生在土星本地时（Saturn's Local Time）11 LT以前,得出了阿尔芬波沿磁力线传播到土星需要约383 min,求解出向阳面磁力线弯曲了约80°,最后得出土星千米波辐射源分布从黎明段的7～9 LT延伸到傍晚段的18 LT,并且黎明段分布的纬度比傍晚段低.     

Oil viscosity limitation on dispersibility of crude oil under simulated at-sea conditions in a large wave tank

This study determined the limiting oil viscosity for chemical dispersion of oil spills under simulated sea conditions in the large outdoor wave tank at the US National Oil Spill Response Test Facility in New Jersey. Dispersant effectiveness tests were completed using crude oils with viscosities ranging from 67 to 40,100 cP at test temperature. Tests produced an effectiveness-viscosity curve with three phases when oil was treated with Corexit 9500 at a dispersant-to-oil ratio of 1:20. The oil viscosity that limited chemical dispersion under simulated at-sea conditions was in the range of 18,690 cP to 33,400 cP. Visual observations and measurements of oil concentrations and droplet size distributions in the water under treated and control slicks correlated well with direct measurements of effectiveness. The dispersant effectiveness versus oil viscosity relationship under simulated at sea conditions at Ohmsett was most similar to those from similar tests made using the Institut Francais du Pétrole and Exxon Dispersant Effectiveness (EXDET) test methods.     

An approximate petroleum hydrocarbon budget for the Hudson Raritan estuary—New York

The quantities of petroleum hydrocarbons being discharged to the Hudson Raritan estuary have been estimated, in tonnes day^?1, from data in the literature as: sewage discharges (35), oil refinery discharges (1.3), non-oil refinery industrial discharges (17), oil spills (1.5), atmospheric deposition (0.002), urban and rural run-off (37). Losses have been estimated in a somewhat similar manner as: permanent deposition in sediments (11), dredging (5.8), advection (6.5), bed sedimentary transport (0.007), decomposition in water and sediments (42), evaporation (0.4), movement of surface slicks (0.4). The results are approximate but suggest that petroleum hydrocarbons originate principally from sewage as well as urban and rural run-off and only moderate proportions are discharged through the estuary mouth. However, this discharge combined with that due to dredging spoil disposal operations results in a considerable quantity of petroleum hydrocarbon entering the adjacent New York Bight.