Abstract:

The dataset consists of output from a non-hydrostatic model of multiphase convection in a cross-flow. All standard oceanographic variables are included, as is oil volume fraction and methane mass density. A simple equation of state is used for seawater, so that the only active thermodynamic variable is temperature. This is a run with rotation; with non-rotating case is available under UDI R6.x806.000:0002 (10.7266/n7-9vyg-je28).

Suggested Citation:

Dewar, William Kurt and Nicolas Wienders. 2022. LES simulations of rotating gas-oil-seawater plumes. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/n7-1fnc-5k39

Purpose:

We share here the results of simulations for multiphase plumes (water + oil + gas) in the context of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (depth of the well head/source is 1500m and buoyancy flux is similar to what was observed). Oil and gas are considered active tracers, via the inclusion of slip velocities, and have an effect on the background circulation. The model resolution is 5 meters in all directions. This implies a small time step (0.25s) and overall short durations for the experiments o (days).

Data Parameters and Units:

ETA (ocean surface elevation, [m]); PTRACER01 (Oil volume fraction, [dimensionless]); PTRACER02 (methane concentration, [moles/m^3]); T (potential temperature, [ºC]); U (zonal component of velocity field, positive eastward [m/s]); V (meridional component of velocity field, positive northward, [m/s]); W (vertical component of velocity field, positive upward [m/s]); PHL (bottom pressure potential anomaly, [m^2/s^2]); PH (total hydrostatic potential anomaly, [m^2/s^2]); PNH (non-hydrostatic pressure anomaly, [m^2/s^2]).

Methods:

The MITgcm model was used in a non-hydrostatic configuration. Oil and gas are considered active tracers, via the inclusion of slip velocities, and have an effect on the background circulation. The model resolution is 5 meters in all directions. This implies a small time step (0.25s) and overall short durations for the experiments o(days). Restart/checkpoint files are also provided at 4-hour intervals (57600 time steps). Note: The original binary model output has been exported to Matlab data files using the MITgcm Matlab utility rdmds. Full two- or three-dimensional variable fields are stored in a Matlab structure, two timesteps per file. Some variables do not appear to be complete, including some variables missing at the initial and final time step and some *.data and *.meta tiles missing out of the 8x8 set for each time step. Missing variables were assembled as NaN fields. The original binary output has been reorganized into day and hour directories for improved manageability.

Individual Files: