Numerical models have been widely used to simulate and predict the behavior and transport of oil spills in marine environments. Their behavior is governed by physical, chemical and biological processes which are related to the hydrocarbon properties, hydrodynamic and weather conditions, and other environmental variables. The transport and interactions of oil particles were evaluated in simulations reproducing two oil spills recorded in the northern part of the Southern Brazilian Shelf (SBS). The numerical simulations were performed using the ECOS (Easy Coupling Oil System) model coupled to the three-dimensional hydrodynamic module TELEMAC3D. The hydrodynamic model provides the variables needed by oil spill model to calculate and infer the properties and behavior of the oil slick. The results indicate that the local wind forcing is the most important factor in determining the oil fate, followed by the intensities and directions of coastal currents. Regarding the events, in 2012 the oil reached the coast after 10 hours of the leak while in 2014 it was transported towards the ocean. The simulation strategy used in this article did not prove to be appropriate for estimates of the oil risk in the region, due to the distinct susceptibility responses between the events simulated.
The wave energy availability has become a field of intensive research around the world. In this sense, this study aims to estimate the wave climate at the most energetic spots on the South-Southeastern Brazilian Shelf (SSBS). To achieve this goal, the sea state model TOMAWAC was used to simulate 18 years of wave conditions on the SSBS. The results showed that the sites at Santa Marta cape and Ilhabela are quite similar, with mean wave height of 1.4 m and period of 8.5 s along the climatological year. Farol island, on the other hand, showed higher averages, of 1.7 m and 8.9 s for wave height and period, respectively. The annual behavior of the wave parameters showed greater stability at Santa Marta cape and Ilhabela, and less at Farol island. The mean wave power yield at the Santa Marta cape and Ilhabela is nearly 10 kW/m and at Farol island, 15 kW/m. A wavelet analysis pointed that the most energetic events are those with periods of occurrence from 6 to 12 days, with the apex at 7 days. The wavelet analysis also showed that the most energetic spectrum is the one at Farol island, with 2.5 times the energy of the other locations at the period band of 7 days.
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