Abstract:

This work focused on studies related to the interaction between freshwater, saltwater and dispersed oil phase in a physical model study that include essential features of exchange flows observed in Mobile Bay navigation channel. The motivation for this study was the effectiveness of oil dispersing procedures following the sinking of Deepwater Horizon drilling platform and the known exchange mechanisms between estuary and sea waters. It was speculated that these exchange flows would constitute a potential mechanism for the entrance of oil-related substances into Mobile Bay, which in turn could represent a source of potential impacts to local ecosystems. The present study aimed to achieve various linked with the understanding of potential mixing and dispersing of oil-related substances that in Mobile Bay navigation channel.