ApplicationsEnvironement & safetyRisk estimation of oil slick pollution

Risk estimation of oil slick pollution on the European Atlantic coastline, using the Mercator system

Marine current forecasting systems such as Mercator can also be used to simulate particle drift in the ocean. Such a model has been implemented by Mercator Océan.

Using the database which was set up when the PSY2V1 high-resolution prototype became operational, together with a particle drift model which takes into consideration both the current calculated by the Mercator prototype for the first level of the model and also the wind measurements, it is possible to create seasonal maps showing the quantified risks of oil slicks on the coasts, as well as stretches of sea routes most at risk.

Risk estimation of oil slick pollution along the coasts in summer 2002 (left) and in winter 2002-2003 (right) Source: Sophie Besnard
Sections of route with coast oil slick pollution risk during summer 2002 (left) and winter 2002-2003 (right) Source: Sophie Besnard