Oil spill model put to the test

The University's Physical Oceanography (PO) unit last month participated in an oil recovery response exercise at sea conducted off the Valletta coast. The event was a joint effort by the Malta Maritime Authority (MMA) and the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA).

The Malta Medslik oil spill model run by the PO unit was used to simulate the drift of the oil in real time and optimise the response by the oil combating team. The model is capable of predicting the evolution of an oil slick in the Malta Channel and the approaches to the Maltese islands, and anticipate the likely impact on the coast.

It predicts the expected state of the oil when it arrives at a given location, that is, how much will have evaporated, where the oil spill will most likely move to, how soon it will get there and which resources it threatens.

Medslik also allows simulations to be run in order to assess the most adequate response with different types and positions of booms.

The oil spill modelling system was researched and developed by Dr Aldo Drago in collaboration with Cypriot expert, Prof. Robin Lardner. For more information view www.capemalta.net.