J. A. Jiménez Madrid

Distinguished trajectories in time dependent vector fields

We introduce a new definition of distinguished trajectory that generalizes the concepts of fixed point and periodic orbit to aperiodic dynamical systems. This new definition is valid for identifying distinguished trajectories with hyperbolic and nonhyperbolic types of stability. The definition is implemented numerically and the procedure consists of determining a path of limit coordinates. It has been successfully applied to known examples of distinguished trajectories. In the context of highly aperiodic realistic flows our definition characterizes distinguished trajectories in finite time intervals, and states that outside these intervals trajectories are no longer distinguished.

Oil Spill Beaching Probability for the Mediterranean Sea

In this chapter, different kinds of oil spill beaching maps are proposed for the Mediterranean. These beaching maps can be useful as a complementary tool to vulnerability analysis and risk assessment in the Mediterranean. Firstly, it is defined an oil beaching map for a single point, which is the situation, for example, in the analysis of an oil platform. Next, the oil beaching map is defined for a line, analysing the main route of oil tankers in the Mediterranean. The final oil beaching maps defined show the percentage of particles which reach the coast in an interval of time: one week, two weeks, one month and two months. The information depicted in the maps is based on Lagrangian simulations using particles as a proxy of oil spills evolving according the environmental conditions provided by a hindcast model of the Mediterranean circulation.