Mechanical Dispersal of Oil Stranded in the Littoral Zone

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Abstract
The natural weathering and dispersion of oil stranded in the littoral zone depend on the type and volume of the oil and on the amount of available energy. Energy inputs can be biological, chemical, mechanical, or thermal; however, the single most important input appears to be from mechanical energy (winds, waves, tides, water levels, and ice). The residence time or persistence of stranded oils increases as mechanical energy levels at the shoreline decrease. The primary inputs of mechanical energy at the shoreline are due to wave action, and energy levels vary depending on the wind regime, fetch areas, and local exposure of a section of coast. In cold or polar climates, energy levels at the shoreline are reduced by the presence of ice on the sea or an ice foot on the beach. This review of the concepts associated with littoral processes, in terms of the mechanical dispersal of stranded oil, provides the basis for estimation of the persistence of oil on shorelines. Key words: petroleum (weathering, dispersal), coastal processes, wave energy, sea ice, ice foot, Canada

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