Abstract
A circulation/oil spill model based on the DieCAST Ocean Circulation Model and the Oil Spill Model has been applied to the Gulf of Mexico to address the transport, fate and 3-D structure of the oil plume resulting from the accidental Deepwater Horizon spill in April-September 2010. Surface forcing is based on annual cycle climatology. However, on the start date of the blowout, climatological winds are replaced by regional 32 km 3-hourly NARR re-processed winds over the entire Gulf. The results from the modeling approach suggest that the prevailing synoptic winds played a major role in pushing the oil toward the Gulf northeastern coasts, and, in synergy with the Loop Current variability, prevented the oil from passing through the Florida Straits to the Atlantic Ocean. Simulations showing the shape and extent of the surface slick are compared with available visible satellite imagery and give interesting results.