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No. 44: Environmental Oil Spill Sensitivity Atlas for the West Greenland (68°-72° N) Coastal Zone, 2nd revised edition

Clausen, D., Johansen, K.L., Mosbech, A., Boertmann, D. & Wegeberg, S. 2012. Environmental Oil Spill Sensitivity Atlas for the West Greenland (68°-72° N) Coastal Zone, 2nd revised edition. Aarhus University, DCE – Danish Centre for Environment and Energy, 498 pp. Scientific Report from DCE – Danish Centre for Environment and Energy No. 44 http://www2.dmu.dk/Pub/SR44.pdf

Summary 

This oil spill sensitivity atlas covers the shoreline and the offshore areas of West Greenland between 68º N and 72º N. This is an update of an atlas covering same area, previously published in 2004. The coastal zone is divided into 199 shoreline segments, and the offshore zone into 8 areas. A sensitivity index value is calculated for each segment/area, and each segment/area is subsequently ranked according to four degrees of sensitivity. Besides this general ranking a number of smaller areas are especially selected as they are of particular significance, they are especially vulnerable to oil spills and they have a size making oil spill response possible. The shoreline sensitivity ranking are shown on 37 maps (in scale 1:250,000), which also show the different elements included and the selected areas. Coast types, logistics and proposed response methods along the coasts are shown on another 37 maps. The sensitivities of the offshore zones are depicted on 4 maps, one for each season. Based on all the information, appropriate oil spill response methods have been assessed for each area.