Photo by Neusa Dreckmann/ BBC

Ms. Daiana M. Costa(1), Dr. Paulina S. Riedel(1), Dr. Cenira M. L. Cunha(1), Dr. Antonio C. Zambon(2)

daianamcosta@gmail.com, psriedel@rc.unesp.br, cenira@rc.unesp.br, aczambon@gmail.com

(1) São Paulo State University (UNESP) ; (2) University of Campinas (UNICAMP)

ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY INDEX TO OIL SPILL IN FLUVIAL ENVIRONMENTS WITH THE SUPPORT OF MORPH

unesp

Brazilian Research

The present study proposes a classification system that aims to determine the environmental sensitivity to oil in several water way settings, based on the main classification system by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and by Brazilian Petroleum Corporation (Petrobras). This proposal came about because of the increasing occurrences of oil spills in continental areas, with consequent environmental damage to water ways, and because there is no broad classification system to fluvial environments, as a result of the majority of the sensitivity studies are directed towards coastal settings. Therefore, so as to have a better assessment of existing bibliographies on these systems, an analysis tool was used, which is called Human Thinking Representation Oriented Model (MORPH). It has simplified the comparison of many interdependent variables, which has made it possible to identify the fundamental physical parameters used to determine the main environments that make up the classification system, like for instance: type and nature of the substrate, hydrodynamic effect, river slopping features, depositional system surfaces, and vegetation presence. Based on these parameters and on the existing classification systems, some features were selected to make up one system, which was named the Fluvial Sensitivity Index (FSI), like for instance: rocky shores, artificial structures, beaches, muddy substrate banks, point-bars, natural dikes, vegetated shores and floodplains associated with vegetation. The FSI relates the physical characteristics that directly influence the natural persistence, in the dispersion and in the cleanup and/or removal of oil conditions, which is directly reflected on the impact level. It is therefore concluded that the used analysis tool (MORPH) proved to be an important support to the establishment of an environmental sensitivity index to oil in fluvial environment, as it allowed a thorough investigation of the bibliographies.

ABSTRACT MOTIVATION

Graph 1. Main location of oil spill reported in Brazil (2006 -2013)

39%

13% 12% 9%

9%

6% 6% 4% 2%

Roads Industry Oil Platform Boats Railroad Pipeline Storage Ports Fuel Station

Brazil has one of the most extensive and diverse river networks in the world that are intercepted by the main modes of hydrocarbons transportation (highways, railways, pipelines and waterways).

Graph 2. Main habitats affected by oil spill in Brazil (2006 – 2012)

28%

23% 21%

21%

4% 2% 1%

Air Soil

River Ocean

Lake Beach

Groundwater

In 2012, it was reported 264,000 gallons of oil spilled in Brazil. Graph 2 shows the main habitats contaminated by oil spill. Environmental accidents with consequent damage to rivers totaled 21%, the same percentage of accidents in the Oceans.

OBJECTIVES

Analysis and comparison of classification

systems for water ways with the

support of MORPH tool

List the fundamental

physical aspects of fluvial

sensitivity

Propose a embracing

classification system, called

Fluvial Sensitivity Index (FSI)

In order

to

Steps of the research process

METHODS

Guide Question

1

keywords

2

Find papers

3

Select papers

4

MORPH 5

Parameters and Habitats

7

Physical aspects

6

Frame 8

Paper analysis 9

Fluvial Sensitivity Index

10

defined

helped

helped

application

identified

identified

knowledge representation

defined

helped

helped

What is MORPH?

The Human Thinking Representation Oriented Model is a tool initially developed for Social Sciences with the purpose of representing the expert knowledge contained in papers or interviews through a frame.

The Model is based on concepts of System Dynamics (SD), Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), Semiotics and Cognitive Psychology.

Therefore MORPH consists of a set of rules to assist knowledge representation in frames that provide a summarized overview of paper contents or interviews, allowing a retelling without consulting the paper again in full. Through the frame it is also possible a diagnosis of a situation you want to understand and to convey this knowledge back to the experts.

Expert

Rules of MORPH

P Structure Model (Frame MORPH)

Interpretation

Elicitation/ Acquisition Representation

Diagnostic

knowledge

Knowledge Acquisition

Process

Start

In order

to

GUIDE QUESTION

What are the physical aspects used to evaluate the Environmental Sensitivity to

Oil in fluvial streams?

RESULTS

The sensitivity rating of river habitats is the delimitation of features found in the course river according to their physical characteristics, patterns of sediment transport, natural persistence of oil and cleanup conditions and / or oil removal. These characteristics prior to an oil accident are very important. Therefore the FSI consider each habitat dynamics, the oil behavior and cleanup difficulties.

Considering these characteristics and with the support of MORPH tool, five key physical parameters were selected to establish the environmental sensitivity index:

• type and nature of the substrate;

• hydrodynamic effect

• river slopping features

• depositional system surfaces

• vegetation presence

Based on the physical parameters and the classification systems used by NOAA and Petrobras eight major habitats were selected to compose the Fluvial Sensitivity Index (FSI):

• rocky shores • artificial structures • beaches • muddy substrate banks • point-bars

• natural levees • vegetated shores • floodplains associated

with vegetation

FSI Habitat

1

Exposed impermeable rocky shore, high and average slope (massive rocks: metamorphic and igneous )

Exposed solid man-made structures , high and average slope (walls, bridges, piers, ramps, port facilities and others of concrete, wood or metal)

2 Exposed permeable rocky shore, high and average slope (igneous rocks and metamorphic with

porosity of fractures, fissures or crazing) Sills with waterfalls

3 Sills with fast and rapids Eroding baks with alluvial terraces

4 Eroding baks with slopes

Sand beaches: Erosional or Transitory

5 Coarse sand beaches : Erosional or Transitory

Mixed sand and gravel beaches: Erosional or Transitory

Sand beaches: Depositional

6

Exposed impermeable rocky shore, low slope (massive rocks: metamorphic and igneous )

Exposed permeable rocky shore, low slope (igneous rocks and metamorphic with porosity of fractures, fissures or crazing)

Exposed boulder shore

Exposed solid man-made structures (Riprap)

Pebble beaches: Erosional or Transitory

Coarse sand beaches : Depositional

7

Sheltered solid man-made structures (walls, bridges, piers, ramps, port facilities and others of concrete, wood or metal)

Sheltered impermeable rocky shore, low slope (massive rocks: metamorphic and igneous )

Mixed sand and gravel beaches: Depositional

Pebble beaches: Depositional

Fluvial islands

8

Sheltered permeable rocky shore, high and average slope (igneous rocks and metamorphic with porosity of fractures, fissures or crazing)

Sheltered permeable rocky shore, low slope (igneous rocks and metamorphic with porosity of fractures, fissures or crazing)

Sheltered boulder shore

9

Sheltered permeable rocky shore (sedimentary rocks with karstic porosity and dissolution features)

Natural levees followed by terraces or slopes

Natural levees followed by floodplain

Point bar deposits

Flooded point bar deposits

Confluence with coalesced floodplains

Muddy substrates low banks

10

Riparian vegetation

Oxbow lakes

Lakes meander

Vegetated low banks

Floodplains with lake

Floodplains with grassy vegetation

Floodplains with herbaceous vegetation

Floodplains with scrub vegetation

Floodplains with woody vegetation

Proposed Fluvial Sensitivity Index (FSI)

CONCLUSIONS

This research can contribute to:

• The establishment of a broader classification system to meet the main river habitats in hot and humid climates;

• The inclusion of habitats not considered in the papers analyzed as: nature of rocky shores, considering the genetic classification of rocks associated with porosity; depositional facies of meandering systems (natural levees, point bars, oxbow lakes and floodplains);

• The development of oil spill sensitivity maps in fluvial environment, subsiding the oil spill contingency plan and the recovery of the affected habitats.

Other considerations:

• Because it is a proposal that combines the habitats found in North American rivers, Amazonian rivers and meandering depositional systems, the FSI can applied in the climatic zones showed below

• For extreme climates (tropical dry, hot desert and cold weather) it must be adapted;

• The FSI can be improved to meet other habitats not covered in the research.

Equator

Temperate climate

Tropic of Capricorn

Artic Circle

Artic Circle

Tropic of Cancer

Temperate climate

Tropical Climate

Tropical Climate

Equatorial Climate

RESULTS (continuation)

REFERENCES D. M. Costa. 2014. Estabelecimento de um Índice de Sensibilidade Ambiental ao Óleo em Ambientes Fluviais, com o suporte da ferrramenta MORPH [dissertation]. Rio Claro (SP): São Paulo State University.

M. F. Ferreira, A. C. Beaumord. 2008. Mapeamento de sensibilidade ambiental a derrames de óleo nos cursos de água da bacia do rio Canhanduba, Itajaí, SC. Brazilian Journal of Aquatic Science and Technology; 12 (2): 61-72.

J. Michel, M. O. Hayes, J. A. Dahlin, and K. Barton. 1994. Sensitivity Mapping of Inland Areas: Technical Support to the Inland Area Planning Committee Working Group USEPA Regin 5. HAZMAT Report 95-4. Seattle, Washington, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Hazardous Materials Response and Assessment Division, Office Ocean Resources Conservation and Assessment, 54 pp + appendix.

Hayes, M. O.; Michel, J.; Montello, T. M. 1997. The reach sensitivity index (RSI) for mapping rivers and streams. In: International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings: 1997 (1): 343-350. doi: http://ioscproceedings.org/doi/pdf/10.7901/2169-3358-1997-1-343

Araujo, S. I.; Silva, G. H.; Muehe, D. Mapas de sensibilidade ambiental a derramamentos de óleo: Ambientes costeiros, estuarinos e fluviais. Rio de Janeiro: Petrobras; 2006

AKNOWLEDGEMENTS

CAPES - Higher Education Personnel Training Coordination

UNESP - São Paulo State University

Ms. Fabiana Marques Costa

Ms. Arthur Wieczoreck

CONTACT

Daiana Marques Costa

Geographer, Master in Geosciences & Environmental

Email: daianamcosta@gmail.com Mob.: + 55 (19) 9 8116 0623

Skype: daiana_m_c