Satellite-Tracked Buoy Activities in Saudi Arabia

by Nizar I. Tawfiq, Natl Meteorological &, Environment Cent, Jeddah, Saudi, Arabia,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Coastal Zone '87

Abstract:

During the pollution threat on the Gulf caused by the collapse of the NOWRUZ oil field well in February 1983, the Meteorology and Environmental Administration (MEPA) established an Oil Spill Response Task Force in Dhahran to coordinate the Saudi Arabian response effort. Because of the position of the blow out, the team was hampered by the lack of observational data and had to rely on modelling, remote sensing, and routine surveillance to locate the slicks. To aid in the understanding of the movements of surface currents and oil, and to increase the observational database, MEPA undertook a programme using drifting buoys to obtain both meteorological and oceanographic data. The paper reports some preliminary results from the programme conducted in 1983-1985. Additional buoy tracks collected in 1986 in both the Red Sea and the Gulf areas are described and MEPA's future plans are outlined.

Subject Headings: Hazardous materials spills | Wells (oil and gas) | Water pollution | Satellites | Meteorology | Oceanography | Gulfs | Red Sea | Saudi Arabia | Middle East | Asia

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