Joint Industry Program on Oil Spill in Arctic and Ice Infested Waters: An Overview

Sørstrøm, S.E.; Singsaas, Ivar; Brandvik, Per Johan

doi:10.1007/978-1-4020-8565-9_12

Cited by 13 publications

(17 citation statements)

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“…The nightmare scenario is that when accidents occur, as they have in every major oil-field (Gulf of Mexico, Alaska, etc. ), the extreme cold, seasonal darkness, remoteness, and presence of sea 10.1002/2016EF000500 ice will make containment and recovery extremely difficult, if not impossible [Sørstrøm et al, 2010;Harvey and Walker, 2013]. Blanken et al [2017], for example, found that sea ice will transport oil (and presumably other contaminants) significantly farther than ocean currents.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Blanken et al [2017], for example, found that sea ice will transport oil (and presumably other contaminants) significantly farther than ocean currents. The US National Academies of Science has recently completed a major study of the state of oil-spill management in the Arctic [National Academies of Science (NAS), 2014], and industry groups are investing in studies and experiments to develop response strategies [Sørstrøm et al, 2010]. However, no technological solution currently exists to recover oil from sea ice, and a large fraction of the oil on, entangled in, or trapped beneath sea ice is likely to be transported with the floes and released into the ocean wherever the ice melts [Venkatesh et al, 1990].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Increasing transnational sea‐ice exchange in a changing Arctic Ocean

et al. 2017

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The changing Arctic sea-ice cover is likely to impact the trans-border exchange of sea ice between the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of the Arctic nations, affecting the risk of ice-rafted contamination. We apply the Lagrangian Ice Tracking System (LITS) to identify sea-ice formation events and track sea ice to its melt locations. Most ice (52%) melts within 100 km of where it is formed; ca. 21% escapes from its EEZ. Thus, most contaminants will be released within an ice parcel's originating EEZ, while material carried by over 1 00,000 km 2 of ice-an area larger than France and Germany combined-will be released to other nations' waters. Between the periods 1988-1999 and 2000-2014, sea-ice formation increased by ∼17% (roughly 6 million km 2 vs. 5 million km 2 annually). Melting peaks earlier; freeze-up begins later; and the central Arctic Ocean is more prominent in both formation and melt in the later period. The total area of ice transported between EEZs increased, while transit times decreased: for example, Russian ice reached melt locations in other nations' EEZs an average of 46% faster while North American ice reached destinations in Eurasian waters an average of 37% faster. Increased trans-border exchange is mainly a result of increased speed (∼14% per decade), allowing first-year ice to escape the summer melt front, even as the front extends further north. Increased trans-border exchange over shorter times is bringing the EEZs of the Arctic nations closer together, which should be taken into account in policy development-including establishment of marine-protected areas. Plain Language SummaryWe use data from satellite images to identify the formation, drift tracks, and melt locations of sea ice in the Arctic. Most ice melts locally: only about 21% is exported from the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in which it is formed. That export is nonetheless about 1,000,000 km 2 each year. As the ice cover has thinned and the summer sea ice has retreated in a warming Arctic, formation and melt locations have moved further north, ice drifts have accelerated, and the area of ice formation and melt has increased. We looked at ice formation and transport between the EEZs of the Arctic nations, and broke the record into two periods : 1988-1999 and 2000-2014. As the Arctic warms, more ice is transported between EEZs and it is arriving at the receiving EEZ faster, than in the past. Between the two study periods: Sea ice velocity increased by about 14%/decade; Russian ice reached melt locations in other nations' EEZs 46% faster; and North American ice reached Eurasian destinations 37% faster. Exchanges of ice have increased as a result. For example, export of ice from Russia to Norway increased by 11% and export from Alaska to Russia by 16%.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Increasing transnational sea‐ice exchange in a changing Arctic Ocean

et al. 2017

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“…In practice, this response method commonly features the collection of accidently spilled oil on a water surface in a so-called "fire boom", followed by the ignition of the oil slick [1,6] and thereby removing the oil from the water surface. Particularly for potential oil spills in the ice-infested waters of the Arctic, this response method has gained increased attention (see for example Sørstrøm et al [7], AMAP [8], Nuka Research & Planning Group [9] and Buist et al [10]). Due to the relatively minimal logistics of ISB, relatively low costs [11] and its applicability at most levels of ice coverage compared to the more conventional mechanical clean-up methods [9,12], ISB has a good potential of cleaning up oil spills in the Arctic.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Importance of the slick thickness for effective in-situ burning of crude oil

Gelderen

Brogaard

Sørensen

et al. 2015

Fire Safety Journal

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“…Because spilled oil can dramatically change its properties during the weathering processes, dispersant use has a distinct ''window of opportunity'' when it is most effective (Trudel et al 2003). The window of opportunity can vary significantly depending on both the properties of the oil and local conditions (Sørstrøm et al 2010). Generally for heavier oils, the window of opportunity is not more than two or three days.…”

Section: Oil Dispersantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hence, it is crucial to start application of dispersant as soon as practicable (SEA Consulting Group 2013). Substantial testing and research, including field experiments in the Barents Sea (Chandrasekar et al 2003;Sørstrøm et al 2010), have demonstrated that dispersants can be effective in cold waters (Owens & Belore 2004;Mullin et al 2008;Belore et al 2009). Moreover, icy conditions slow down weathering processes, lengthening the window of opportunity for applying dispersants (Bjerkemo 2011;Velez et al 2011).…”

Section: Oil Dispersantsmentioning

confidence: 99%