State-of-the-Art Review of Modeling Transport and Fate of Oil Spills

This paper reviews the state of the art of modeling oil spills and the components that form the models. Model needs and uses are discussed. Important oil spill transport and fate processes are identified and reviewed. For each process the physics of the mechanism, as currently understood, are described. Shortcomings of the understanding of the mechanisms are also identified. Current state of the art of models are demonstrated by hindcasting of selected spill events.