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Oceanographic factors of oil pollution dispersion offshore the Nile Delta (Egypt) using GIS

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Abstract

Oil pollution is a worldwide concern due to the increasing rate of offshore oil production and transport. As the Nile Delta coast is adjacent to the main route of oil transport through the Suez Canal, accidental oil spills along the offshore region may have a tremendous impact on the coastal waters. If the oil slicks reach the coast, the impact should also be significant. This study aimed to map the oceanographic parameters that may affect oil pollution dispersion along the offshore zone of the Nile Delta using geographic information system (GIS) techniques. Oceanographic data (wave patterns, bathymetry data, sea surface temperature (SST), chlorophyll content, phytoplankton concentration, and organic carbon concentration) were used to analyze the characteristics of water at the onset of oil pollution to interpret the dispersion of the oil slick once discharged into the seawater. The results showed that SSTs and the depth of the coastal zone primarily influence the distribution of the other parameters.

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Acknowledgements

The authors deeply appreciate all valuable comments and suggestions of two anonymous reviewers, which helped us to improve the quality of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Damietta University, New Damietta, 3451, Egypt

    Rasha M. Abou Samra, Maie El-Gammal & Rasha Eissa

Authors
  1. Rasha M. Abou Samra
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  2. Maie El-Gammal
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  3. Rasha Eissa
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Contributions

The authors confirm contribution to the paper as follows: study conception and design, Rasha M. Abou Samra, Maie El-Gammal, and Rasha Eissa; data collection, Rasha Eissa; analysis and interpretation of results, Rasha M. Abou Samra, Maie El-Gammal, and Rasha Eissa; and draft manuscript preparation, Rasha M. Abou Samra and Maie El-Gamma. All authors reviewed the results and approved the final version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Rasha M. Abou Samra.

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Responsible editor: V. V.S.S. Sarma

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Abou Samra, R.M., El-Gammal, M. & Eissa, R. Oceanographic factors of oil pollution dispersion offshore the Nile Delta (Egypt) using GIS. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 25830–25843 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-12570-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-12570-0

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