Models for calculating oil spill damages to shores

A parametric calculation model and a regression model have been developed for estimating damage to a shoreline following an oil spill accident. As output, the calculation model gives shoreline length contaminated, the amount of oil on the shore and the density of oil on different shoreline types at selected times after the initial impact. The model has been applied to a case study at Svalbard, Norway. The regression model is based upon reports from 25 spills worldwide and gives the shorelength damaged S as a function of stranded oil X:S equals 0. 006 X plus 70. 6, r**2 equals 0. 58. The calculation model seems to give better predictions of shoreline contaminated than the regression model.