The impact of an oil spill in turbulent waters : the Braer : proceedings of a symposium held at the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 7-8 September 1995 / edited by J.M. Davies and G. Topping.

Published for the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Includes bibliographies and index.

The Braer oil spill was unusual because of the nature of the oil spilled and the persistent and exceptional turbulence caused by the strong winds. The bulk of the 84,000 tonnes of oil was mixed deep into the sea and its impact was mostly felt by the fish and shellfish inhabiting those deeper waters rather than the seabirds who are mostly affected by a surface oil slick. The spill was also unusual in that a significant amount of oil was blown onto the surrounding hinterland. This oil had short-lived effects on the local vegetation and on sheep and caused concern for the health of people living locally. Much effort was put into researching and monitoring the effects of the oil spill on the environment and on the people involved. Based upon a symposium organised by the Royal Society of Edinburgh this book explores the impact of the Braer on land and in the sea