Burning Oil Wells Research Articles

Climate response to smoke from the burning oil wells in Kuwait

The response of the global climate system to smoke from burning oil wells in Kuwait is investigated in a series of numerical experiments using a coupled atmosphere–ocean general circulation model with an interactive soot transport model and extended radiation scheme. The results show a decrease in surface air temperature of ~4 °C in the Gulf region. Outside this region the changes are small and statistically insignificant. No weakening of the Indian summer monsoon is observed.

Environmental effects from burning oil wells in Kuwait

Model calculations, constrained by satellite observations, indicate that most of the smoke from the oil fires in Kuwait will remain in the lowest few kilometres of the troposphere. Beneath the plume there is a severe reduction in daylight, and a day-time temperature drop of ~10 °C within ~200 km of the source. Episodic events of acid rain and photochemical smog will occur within ~1,000-2,000km of Kuwait. But changes in the Asian summer monsoon are unlikely to exceed the natural interannual variability and stratospheric ozone concentrations are unlikely to be affected.