The Davis Strait - DCE - Nationalt Center for Miljø og Energi

Figure 11.3.1. Oil spill sensitivity
of coastlines in the assessment
area according to the oil spill
sensitivity atlas (Mosbech et al.
2000).
222
66°N
64°N
60°W
Shoreline sensitivity
Ranking
Extreme
62°N
High
Moderate
Low
Assessment area
0 50 100 Km
55°W
11.3.1 Seasonal summary of offshore oil spill sensitivity
55°W
In relation to this assessment classification of offshore areas is particularly
relevant and this has been updated with the newest available data (Figures
11.3.2). The offshore areas were defined on the basis of a cluster analysis in
order to obtain ecologically meaningful areas, and the four seasons were calculated
separately. The cluster analysis included twelve variables: air temperature,
air pressure, sea surface temperature (two different measurements),
temperature at a depth of 30 m, salinity at the surface and at 30 m in
depth, wind speed, ice coverage, sea depth, slope of seabed and distance to
coast (for details see Mosbech et al. 2004b).
For each season and offshore area various symbols are shown in Figure
11.3.2 for important species or species groups according to their relative
abundance. For each season the relative sensitivity to oil spill is calculated
for each offshore area, ranging from low to extreme sensitivity. This classification
is based on the relative abundance of resources, but also species specific
sensitivity values, an oil residency index, a human use factor and a few
50°W
50°W
68°N
66°N
64°N
62°N