Modeling of the Fate and Behaviors of an Oil Spill in the Azemmour River Estuary in Morocco

Abstract

Oil spills are one of the most hazardous pollutants in marine environments with potentially devastating impacts on ecosystems, human health, and socio-economic sectors. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to establish a prompt and efficient system for forecasting and monitoring such spills, in order to minimize their impacts. The present work focuses on the numerical simulation of the drift and spread of oil slicks in marine environments. The specific area of interest is the Azemmour estuary, located on Morocco’s Atlantic Coast. According to the environmental sensitivity index (ESI), given its geographical location at the intersection of the World’s Shipping Lines of oil transport, this area, as with many other sites in Morocco, has been classified as a high-risk area for oil spill accidents. By taking into account a range of factors, including the ocean currents, the weather conditions, and the oil properties, detailed numerical simulations were conducted, using the hydrodynamic TELEMAC-2D model, to predict the behavior and spread of an oil spill event in the aforementioned coastal region. The simulation results help to understand the spatial–temporal evolution of the spilled oil, the effect of wind on the spreading process, as well as the coastal areas that are most likely to be affected in the event of an oil spill accident. The simulations were performed with and without wind effects. The results showed that three days after the oil spill only 31% of the spilled oil remained on the sea surface. The wind was found to be the main factor responsible for oil drifting offshore. The results indicated that rapid action is needed to address the oil spill before it causes significant environmental damage and makes the oil cleanup process more challenging and expensive. The results of the present study are highly valuable for the management and prevention of environmental disasters in the Azemmour estuary area. The findings can be used to assess the efficacy of various response strategies, such as containment and cleanup measures, and to develop more effective emergency response plans.