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RESEARCH> Marine Pollution Interactions

Marine Pollution

We are not only interested in studying fundamental oceanographic processes but also interested in applying our research results to practical marine pollution problems. The following photo provides an aerial view of an oil spill in windy condition. In the bottom half of the oil patch as well as in the arm extending in the top-left direction, the oil film is broken into many streaks roughly oriented in the wind direction. These streaks are manifestations of subsurface vortical motions known as Langmuir circulations. In collaboration with environmental scientists at NOAA's Hazardous Materials Response Division and Canadian Department of Environment, we have developed models to estimate how fast these streaks disperse oil slicks. We have also developed simple analytical models to determine whether turbulence generated by breaking waves disintegrates an oil film into oil droplets at a particular wind speed.


Figure 1. An aerial photograph of an oil spill. Oil streaks organize into roughly parallel bands oriented in the wind direction. Courtesy of NOAA’s Hazardous Materials Response Division.

Related Publications:

Li, M. 2000. Estimating horizontal dispersion of floating particles in wind-driven upper ocean. Spill Sci. Tech., 6, 255-261.

Colbo, K. and M. Li. 1999. Parameterizing particle dispersion in Langmuir circulation. J. Geophys. Res., 104, 26059-26068.

Li, M. and C. Garrett. 1998. The relationship between oil droplet size and upper ocean turbulence. Mar. Pollut. Bull., 36, 961-970.

Zeidan, E., K. Zahariev, M. Li and C. Garrett. 1997. The breakup of oil spills in the marine environment. Proceedings of the 20th Arctic and Marine Oilspill Program Technical Seminar, 187-201.

Li, M. 1996. Representing turbulent dispersion in oil spill models. Proceedings of the 19th Arctic and Marine Oilspill Program Technical Seminar, 185-198.

Li, M. and C. Garrett. 1996. Breakup of oil droplets in turbulent flows. Proceedings of the 19th Arctic and Marine Oilspill Program Technical Seminar, 671-684.

Farmer, D.M. and M. Li. 1994. Oil dispersion in turbulence and coherent circulations. Ocean Engng., 21(6), 575-586.

Li, M. and D.M. Farmer. 1993. Oil submersion in a wind-driven sea. Proc. IEEE Oceans, 330-334.