GIS-based modelling for advection and diffusion of oil pollution in coastal waters

To manage oil pollution with an effective intervention, a questioning related to "where, when and how" the oil is spilt under the hydrodynamic conditions, is required. Processes and mechanisms such as spreading, evaporation, emulsification, dissolution, vertical dispersion, sedimentation, photooxidation occur when oil is spilt in the marine environment. Although each mechanism plays a role in oil spreading, most of the modelling studies include the mechanisms which have higher impact in the first hours such as evaporation and emulsification. The spreading and weathering processes of oil varies according to environmental factors and the oil type. Environmental factors include the main parameters such as temperature, salinity, wave height, current speed and direction, wind speed and direction, and turbulence. The oil-related factors include the amount of the spill, the American Petroleum Institute (API) gravity, density and viscosity parameters. In this thesis, the equations of the weathering processes were determined and integrated into the HYDROTAM-3D. The oil terminals are investigated including their capacity assessment. Handled oil types are observed for the port and terminals in Izmit Bay and these data are inserted into the HYDROTAM-3D according to the ports' geographic coordinates. Wind, wave and current climate and oil pollution transport submodules are modelled for İzmit Bay. Modelling outputs were obtained for a total of 24 scenarios by applying 17 different environmental and spillage conditions in 4 different regions in the İzmit Bay. The modelling study can be replicated in the other coastal waters of Turkey contributing to the Emergency Response Plans.