Predictability of surface currents and fronts off the Mississippi Delta

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

1-1-2001

Abstract

Mississippi delta and adjacent coastal areas are at constant risk from oil spills. Oil spill modelers have traditionally based predictions of oil movement on the surface wind field and limited knowledge of surface events, Frontal zones can control the oil movement of oil, in opposition to the prevailing winds and can provide efficient natural traps for spilled oil. National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration AVHRR surface temperatures and reflectance information was used to reveal important aspects of surface circulation, frontal locations, and temperature structure of the waters surrounding the Mississippi River delta. River discharge was found to control the amount of water surrounding the delta and the locations of fronts. Higher river discharge moved the fronts seaward. Strongest current velocities in the gyre occurred on the southwest flank, where offshore water masses were also entrained into the Louisiana Bight. The northwestward flow toward the coast made the coastal area between Barataria Bay and Terrebonne Bay highly susceptible to coastal damage due to spilled oil and other contaminants. In contrast, west winds force the Southwest Pass plume towards the south and east and effectively reversed surface flow south of the delta. The clockwise gyre was disrupted by this wind field and by the lack of source waters. Most regions were least susceptible to oiling with northwest winds that tranport material seaward. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 24th Arctic and Marine Oilspill Program Technical Seminar (Edmonton, Alberta, 6/12-14/2001).

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Environment Canada Arctic and Marine Oil Spill Program Technical Seminar AMOP Proceedings

First Page

427

Last Page

453

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