Oil-Marine Snow-Mineral Aggregate Interactions and Sedimentation during the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
Implementing Organization
University of Georgia Research Foundation
Overview
DWH Project Funding
$893,187
Known Leveraged Funding
$0
Funding Organization
Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI)
Funding Program
Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative GoMRI Grant Program
Details
Project Category
Science
Project Actions
Physical Aspects Research
Targeted Resources
Human and/or Institutional Capacity
Project Description
We will develop a depth-dependent model of the coagulation of oil with marine particles to determine the dominant factors governing oil-particle interactions and to predict rates and timing of sedimentation of oil associated with aggregates to the sea floor. We will use detailed particle observations, including size distributions and abundances, from the NE Gulf of Mexico, and observations from sediment traps and laboratory experiments, to develop and validate the model. The model will incorporate environmental variables such as water temperature and salinity profiles. Multiple simulations will be run, varying factors that affect coagulation rates. Our goal is to build a generic framework that can be used in different locations with appropriate parameterization as part of an oil spill emergency response tool.
Contact
Adrian BurdNone
adrianb@uga.edu
Project Website
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