Numerical Simulation of Oil Spills in the Lower Amazonas River

Abstract

In 2013, a slope slide took place at the Santana-AP channel that links to the Lower Amazon River’s North Channel, resulting in the sudden collapse of a substantial section of the Port of Santana and its infrastructure. This area houses liquid bulk terminals and pipelines with high pollution potential. The objective of the research is to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of an eventual oil spill in the very short term using a numerical hydrodynamic simulation model coupled with that of pollutant dispersion. The SisBaHiA® software, experimentally calibrated using acoustic methods (ADCP), was used to generate hypothetical scenarios in these areas with a substantial risk of landslides. Two hydrological scenarios stand out in the simulations: (a) November S-1 (dry) and (b) May S-2 (rainy). In S-1, the plume dispersion was higher during flood tides S-1a and S-1b, reaching 4 h urban slope areas, river mouths, tributaries (Matapi and Vila Nova), and environmental protection areas. At S-2, the plume spread was greater during the ebb tides S-2c and S-2d, affecting Macapá’s water supply system 12 h after the accident. The scenarios suggest the existence of high risks associated with the study hypotheses. The dispersion of the plume is directly proportional to the flow, indicating that local hydrodynamics is probably the most relevant dispersive factor. We conclude that the mitigation time for more severe effects is critical in the first 4 h because the coastal geographic feature tends to keep the plume in the Santana channel.

Modeling the Impacts of Sea Level Rise Scenarios on the Amazon River Estuary

“…Concerning the potential impacts on the local tropical biodiversity of the SLR, the Amazonian estuary is considered environmentally sensitive when it comes to the coast [16]. About the aquatic biota, in addition to sheltering protected areas and several riverside communities, preventive protection against probable episodes involving potential accidents with ships and oil spills is especially relevant for the conservation of the Amazonian biodiversity [27,63]. In a recent study conducted in [27], the biological resources and endemic species present in the Lower Amazon River were mapped, covering approximately 60 sites.…”

“…Key factors include rising temperatures, alterations in precipitation patterns (duration, frequency, timing and intensity), heightened storm frequency and intensity, shifts in ocean currents and rising sea levels leading to salinization processes. These environmental pressures, compounded by increasing anthropogenic activities like pollution, land conversion and resource extraction, jeopardize the ecosystems, leading to shrinkage and degradation [55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63].…”