Environmental factors in operations to combat oil spills

At its first session in November 1970, the Commission on Marine Meteorology Working Group on Requirements for Marine Meteorological Services considered that amongst the many services required by marine user groups are those to assist in operations to control the spread of oil pollution. The results of an inquiry among Members of WMO indicated that a number of National Meteorological Services are involved in these activities and provide forecasts of environmental factors influencing the movement of surface oil and other relevant information. To combat oil spills effectively, knowledge is required of the rate and direction of the spill movement, the latter being determined by winds, waves and currents as well as by the physical and chemical properties of oil and water. These aspects have been discussed in this report and factors to be taken into account in developing forecast procedures have also have indicated.