Risk assessments of potential oil spills in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago

The Canadian Arctic Archipelago is an ecologically important area. Global warming will significantly reduce sea ice coverage in the Arctic and make it possible for the Northwest Passage to become a key shipping route between the Pacific Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean. The environmental risks of ship-sourced oil spills in the area have not yet been well addressed. The goal of this project is to use a high resolution circulation model to assess risks from oil spills to conservation areas in the archipelago. Oil spill models from the project will help responders locate, identify the potential impacts of oil spilled in specific areas and influence decision-making.