Article | Published:

Environmental effects from burning oil wells in Kuwait

Nature 351, 363–367 (30 May 1991) | Download Citation

Subjects

Abstract

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.

Access optionsAccess options

Rent or Buy article

Get time limited or full article access on ReadCube.

from$8.99

Rent or Buy

All prices are NET prices.

References

  1. 1.

    Note placed by Secretary of State for Defence in House of Commons Lib., 17 January 1991.

  2. 2.

    Nature 350, 11–12 (1991).

  3. 3.

    Plume rise (US Atomic Energy Commission Rep. No. TID-25075 (US Department of Commerce, Springfield, Virginia, 1969)).

  4. 4.

    , & J. geophys. Res. 95, 14071–14076 (1990).

  5. 5.

    Met. Mag. 119, 81–96 (1990).

  6. 6.

    , , & Nature 319, 301–303 (1986).

  7. 7.

    , , , & Science 247, 166–176 (1990).

  8. 8.

    & Nature 313, 467–469 (1985).

  9. 9.

    Nature 349, 96 (1991).

  10. 10.

    Science 251, 372 (1991).

  11. 11.

    New Scientist 129, 30–31 (1991).

  12. 12.

    & Österreich. Beiträge Met. Geoph. 1, 137–146 (1989).

  13. 13.

    Atmos. Envir. 22, 2653–2666 (1988).

  14. 14.

    Atmos. Envir. A25, 263–270 (1991).

  15. 15.

    , & Atmos. Envir. A24, 2927–2934 (1990).

  16. 16.

    UK Terrestrial Effects Review Group Rep. No. 1, Effects of acid deposition on terrestrial environments in the UK (Department of the Environment, HMSO, 1987).

  17. 17.

    , , & J. Forecasting 10, 21–56 (1991).

  18. 18.

    & J. geophys. Res. 93, 7037–7045 (1988).

  19. 19.

    ECMWF Met. Bull. No. MI 1/6 (1987).

  20. 20.

    Clim. Change 7, 237–251 (1985).

  21. 21.

    , & J. geophys. Res. 93, 8315–8337 (1988).

  22. 22.

    , , & J. atmos. Chem. 3, 469–489 (1985).

  23. 23.

    Acid deposition in the UK, 1986–1988, Third Report UK Review Group on Acid Rain (Department of Transport, South Ruislip, UK, 1990).

Download references

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Meteorological Office, London Road, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 2SZ, UK

    • K. A. Browning
    • , R. J. Allam
    • , S. P. Ballard
    • , R. T. H. Barnes
    • , D. A. Bennetts
    • , R. H. Maryon
    • , P. J. Mason
    • , D. McKenna
    • , J. F. B. Mitchell
    • , C. A. Senior
    • , A. Slingo
    •  & F. B. Smith

Authors

  1. Search for K. A. Browning in:

  2. Search for R. J. Allam in:

  3. Search for S. P. Ballard in:

  4. Search for R. T. H. Barnes in:

  5. Search for D. A. Bennetts in:

  6. Search for R. H. Maryon in:

  7. Search for P. J. Mason in:

  8. Search for D. McKenna in:

  9. Search for J. F. B. Mitchell in:

  10. Search for C. A. Senior in:

  11. Search for A. Slingo in:

  12. Search for F. B. Smith in:

To obtain permission to re-use content from this article visit RightsLink.

About this article

Publication history

Received

Accepted

Published

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1038/351363a0

Further reading

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.