Hydrodynamic model for investigation of oil spill in the Gulf of Thailand

Abstract

A two-dimensional hydrodynamic model employing ADI finite difference technique is applied to compute current in the Gulf of Thailand. The 8-years averaged wind data from 1980 to 1988, tidal elevation at the open boundary computed by harmonic analysis, and averaged depth from navigation chart of the Royal Thai NAVI are used as input in computation. The results, monthly mean of current vector fields are presented in this study. Comparison between measured current from oceanographic buoys deployed in the Gulf of Thailand, and computed current from hydrodynamic model is good at Rayong, Ko Sichang, Petchaburi, and Hua Hin, while poor comparisons occur at Ko Chang, Ko Tao, and Nakorn Srithammarat. In this study, the oil spill trajectory model is tested by employing computed current of hydrodynamic model as input. Field experiment for testing started on March 30, 1995 hear Ko Sichang. Drift cards as oil slick leaked in the sea are released and tracked down, and then the measured and computed positions of drift cards are compared. The results show that, if the tidal current computed by hydrodynamic model is included in computation, more accuracy in trajectory prediction of spilled oil in the Gulf of Thailand will occur.