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Investigating the effect of oil spills
on the environment and public health.
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Villy Kourafalou

University of Miami

Project List:

Southeastern Gulf of Mexico Processes Affecting Basin-Wide Connectivity and Hydrocarbon Transport: the Role of Mesoscale Eddies and Upwelling Near Cuba

Year 8-10 Research Grants (RFP-VI)Role: Principal Investigator, Project Data Point of Contact

Influence of river induced fronts on hydrocarbon transport

Year 6-8 Investigator Grants (RFP-V)Role: Principal Investigator, Task Lead, Task Lead, Task Co-Lead, Task Co-Lead, Task Co-Lead, Task Data Contact, Outreach Point of Contact

Deepsea to Coast Connectivity in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico (DEEP-C)

Year 2-4 Consortia Grants (RFP-I)Role: Co-Principal Investigator, Task Co-Lead

A Coordinated Modeling Approach in Support of Oil Spill Tracking

Year One Block Grant - Florida Institute of OceanographyRole: Co-Principal Investigator

Publications & Presentations:

Journal Articles - 27

2021

Ainsworth, C. H., Chassignet, E. P., French-McCay, D., Beegle-Krause, C. J., Berenshtein, I., Englehardt, J., et al. (2021). Ten years of modeling the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Environmental Modelling & Software, 142, 105070.
Androulidakis, Y., Kourafalou, V., Le Henaff, M., Kang, H., & Ntaganou, N. (2021). The Role of Mesoscale Dynamics over Northwestern Cuba in the Loop Current Evolution in 2010, during the Deepwater Horizon Incident. J. Mar. Sci. Eng., 9(2), 188.
Boufadel, M., Bracco, A., Chassignet, E., Chen, S., D'Asaro, E., Dewar, W., et al. (2021). Physical Transport Processes that Affect the Distribution of Oil in the Gulf of Mexico: Observations and Modeling. Oceanog, 34(1), 58–75.
Hole, L. R., de Aguiar, V., Dagestad, K. - F., Kourafalou, V. H., Androulidakis, Y., Kang, H., et al. (2021). Long term simulations of potential oil spills around Cuba. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 167, 112285.
Justic, D., Kourafalou, V., Mariotti, G., He, S., Weisberg, R., Androulidakis, Y., et al. (2021). Transport Processes in the Gulf of Mexico Along the River-Estuary-Shelf-Ocean Continuum: a Review of Research from the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative. Estuaries and Coasts, 2021.
Solo-Gabriele, H. M., Fiddaman, T., Mauritzen, C., Ainsworth, C., Abramson, D. M., Berenshtein, I., et al. (2021). Towards integrated modeling of the long-term impacts of oil spills. Marine Policy, 131, 104554.
Westerholm, D., Ainsworth, C., Barker, C., Brewer, P., Farrington, J., Justic, D., et al. (2021). Preparedness, Planning, and Advances in Operational Response. Oceanog, 34(1), 212–227.

2020

Androulidakis, Y., Kourafalou, V., Le Henaff, M., Kang, H., Ntaganou, N., & Hu, C. (2020). Gulf Stream evolution through the Straits of Florida: the role of eddies and upwelling near Cuba. Ocean Dynamics, 70(8), 1005–1032.
Androulidakis, Y., Kourafalou, V., Robert Hole, L., Le Henaff, M., & Kang, H. S. (2020). Pathways of Oil Spills from Potential Cuban Offshore Exploration: Influence of Ocean Circulation. Jmse, 8(7), 535.
Barker, C. H., Kourafalou, V. H., Beegle-Krause, C., Boufadel, M., Bourassa, M. A., Buschang, S. G., et al. (2020). Progress in Operational Modeling in Support of Oil Spill Response. Jmse, 8(9), 668.
Garcia-Pineda, O., Androulidakis, Y., Le Henaff, M., Kourafalou, V., Hole, L. R., Kang, H. S., et al. (2020). Measuring oil residence time with GPS-drifters, satellites, and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). Marine Pollution Bulletin, 150, 110644.
Garcia-Pineda, O., Staples, G., Jones, C. E., Hu, C., Holt, B., Kourafalou, V., et al. (2020). Classification of oil spill by thicknesses using multiple remote sensors. Remote Sensing of Environment, 236, 111421.
Le Henaff, M., Kourafalou, V. H., Androulidakis, Y., Smith, R. H., Kang, H. S., Hu, C., et al. (2020). In Situ Measurements of Circulation Features Influencing Cross-Shelf Transport Around Northwest Cuba. J. Geophys. Res. Oceans, 125(7).

2019

Androulidakis, Y., Kourafalou, V., Le Hénaff, M., Kang, H. S., Sutton, T., Chen, S., et al. (2019). Offshore Spreading of Mississippi Waters: Pathways and Vertical Structure Under Eddy Influence. J. Geophys. Res. Oceans, 124(8), 5952–5978.
Hole, L. R., Dagestad, K. - F., R?hrs, J., Wettre, C., Kourafalou, V. H., Androulidakis, Y., et al. (2019). The DeepWater Horizon Oil Slick: Simulations of River Front Effects and Oil Droplet Size Distribution. Jmse, 7(10), 329.
Zhang, Y., Hu, C., Liu, Y., Weisberg, R. H., & Kourafalou, V. H. (2019). Submesoscale and Mesoscale Eddies in the Florida Straits: Observations from Satellite Ocean Color Measurements. Geophys. Res. Lett., 46(22), 13262–13270.

2018

Androulidakis, Y., Kourafalou, V., Ã?zgökmen, T., Garcia-Pineda, O., Lund, B., Le Hénaff, M., et al. (2018). Influence of River-Induced Fronts on Hydrocarbon Transport: A Multiplatform Observational Study. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 123(5), 3259–3285.
Sun, S., Hu, C., Garcia-Pineda, O., Kourafalou, V., Le Hénaff, M., & Androulidakis, Y. (2018). Remote sensing assessment of oil spills near a damaged platform in the Gulf of Mexico. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 136, 141–151.

2017

Kourafalou, V., Androulidakis, Y., Le Hénaff, M., & Kang, H. S. (2017). The Dynamics of Cuba Anticyclones (CubANs) and Interaction With the Loop Current/Florida Current System. J. Geophys. Res. Oceans, 122(10), 7897–7923.

2014

Ghani, M. H., Hole, L. R., Fer, I., Kourafalou, V. H., Wienders, N., Kang, H. S., et al. (2014). The SailBuoy remotely-controlled unmanned vessel: Measurements of near surface temperature, salinity and oxygen concentration in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. Methods in Oceanography, 10(2014), 104–121.
Halliwell Jr., G. R., Srinivasan, A., Kourafalou, V., Yang, H., Willey, D., Le Henaff, M., et al. (2014). Rigorous Evaluation of a Fraternal Twin Ocean OSSE System for the Open Gulf of Mexico. J. AtmJ. Atmos. Oceanic Technol.os. Oceanic Technol., 31(1), 105–130.
Schiller, R. V., & Kourafalou, V. H. (2014). Loop Current Impact on the Transport of Mississippi River Waters. Journal of Coastal Research, 30(6), 1287–1306.

2013

Androulidakis, Y. S., & Kourafalou, V. H. (2013). On the processes that influence the transport and fate of Mississippi waters under flooding outflow conditions. Ocean Dynamics, 63(2-3), 143–164.
Kourafalou, V. H., & Androulidakis, Y. S. (2013). Influence of Mississippi River induced circulation on the Deepwater Horizon oil spill transport: MISSISSIPPI PLUME IMPACT ON DWH OIL. J. Geophys. Res. Oceans, 118(8), 3823–3842.

2012

Kourafalou, V. H., & Kang, H. (2012). Florida Current meandering and evolution of cyclonic eddies along the Florida Keys Reef Tract: are they inter-connected? Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 117(C5).
Le Henaff, M., Kourafalou, V., Paris, C. B., Helgers, J., Aman, Z. M., Hogan, P., et al. (2012). Surface Evolution of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Patch: Combined Effects of Circulation and Wind-Induced Drift. Environmental Science & Technology, 46(13), 7267–7273.
Paris, C. B., Le Henaff, M., Aman, Z. M., Subramaniam, A., Helgers, J., Wang, D. - P., et al. (2012). Evolution of the Macondo Well Blowout: Simulating the Effects of the Circulation and Synthetic Dispersants on the Subsea Oil Transport. Environ. Sci. Technol., 46(24), 13293–13302.

Conference Presentations - 43

2020

Androulidakis, Y., Kourafalou, V., Le Henaff, M., Kang, H., & Hu, C. (2020). Cuban Eddy and Upwelling Processes Influencing Regional Gulf Stream Variability in the Gulf of Mexico. In Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference 2020. Tampa, FL : 02/03/20-02/06/20.
Hole, L. R., Dagestad, K. - F., Kourafalou, V., Aguiar, V. C., Androulidakis, Y., Kang, H., et al. (2020). Pathways of Hydrocarbons From Future Oil Exploration Sites Around Cuba: Influence of Local and Regional Ocean Dynamics. In Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference 2020. Tampa, FL : 02/03/20-02/06/20: Poster.
Le Henaff, M., Kourafalou, V., Androulidakis, Y., Smith, R. H., Kang, H., Hu, C., et al. (2020). In situ measurements of circulation features influencing cross-shelf transport around Northwest Cuba. In Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference 2020. Tampa, FL : 02/03/20-02/06/20.

2019

Androulidakis, I., Kourafalou, V., Le Henaff, M., Kang, H., Sutton, T., Chen, S., et al. (2019). Characterization of offshore pathways of Mississippi waters under eddy influence: observations and modeling. In Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference 2019. New Orleans, LA : 02/04/19-02/07/19.
Dagestad, K., Hole, L., Hu, C., Kourafalou, V., Wettre, C., Le Hénaff, M., et al. (2019). Observed versus simulated oil film thickness during DeepWater Horizon oil spill. In Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference 2019. New Orleans, LA : 02/04/19-02/07/19: Poster.
Garcia-Pineda, O., Graettinger, G., DiPinto, L., Tullis, D., Hu, C., Sun, S., et al. (2019). Calculation of Oil Spill Volumes Using Oil Thickness Classifications from Industry Standards: A Comparison of Bonn Agreement, NOAA, and ASTM-F2534. In Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference 2019. New Orleans, LA : 02/04/19-02/07/19.
He, S., Justic, D., Mariotti, G., & Kourafalou, V. (2019). Fluxes between River, Estuary and Coastal Ocean: State of the Art and Future Challenges. In Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference 2019. New Orleans, LA : 02/04/19-02/07/19: Poster.
Hole, L., Dagestad, K., Wettre, C., Kourafalou, V. H., Androulidakis, Y. S., Kang, H., et al. (2019). Southeastern Gulf of Mexico processes affecting basin-wide connectivity and hydrocarbon transport: the role of mesoscale eddies and upwelling near Cuba. In OceanPredict 2019. Halifax, Canada : 05/06/19-05/10/19: Poster.
Hole, L., Wettre, C., Dagestad, K., Kourafalou, V., Androulidakis, I., Kang, H., et al. (2019). Revisiting the Deep Water Horizon Spill: Effects of Oil Droplet Size Distribution and River Fronts. In Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference 2019. New Orleans, LA : 02/04/19-02/07/19.
Kourafalou, V., Le Henaff, M., Androulidakis, I., de Rada, S., Sutton, T., & Muller-Karger, F. (2019). Development of Earth System Model Components to Quantify the Connectivity of Remote Ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico. In Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference 2019. New Orleans, LA : 02/04/19-02/07/19.
Kourafalou, V. H., Androulidakis, Y. S., Kang, H., & Le Henaff, M. (2019). Predictability in the Straits of Florida: the role of eddies and coastal upwelling near Cuba. In OceanPredict 2019. Halifax, Canada : 05/06/19-05/10/19: Poster.
Le Henaff, M., Kourafalou, V., Androulidakis, I., Garcia, O., Hole, L., Sun, S., et al. (2019). Transport pathways and fate of surface oil slicks around the MC20 site. In Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference 2019. New Orleans, LA : 02/04/19-02/07/19: Poster.
Le Henaff, M., Otis, D. B., Muller-Karger, F. E., Kourafalou, V., & McEachron, L. (2019). From threat to improved practices: how ecological events led to the design of monitoring tools in two Gulf of Mexico National Marine Sanctuaries. In Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference 2019. New Orleans, LA : 02/04/19-02/07/19.
Sun, S., Hu, C., Garcia-Pineda, O., Kourafalou, V., Le Henaff, M., & Androulidakis, I. (2019). A multi-sensor remote sensing approach to assess oil spill from the MC-20 site. In Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference 2019. New Orleans, LA : 02/04/19-02/07/19: Poster.

2018

Androulidakis, I., Kourafalou, V., Ozgokmen, T., Garcia, O., Lund, B., Le Henaff, M., et al. (2018). Multi-platform observational study of oil pathways under the effect of river-induced fronts. In 12th Panhellenic Symposium of Oceanography & Fisheries. Corfu, Greece : 05/31/18-06/03/18.
Garcia, O., Kourafalou, V., Le Henaff, M., Androulidakis, I., Hu, C., Sun, S., et al. (2018). Tactical oil Spill Observations with Drones, Satellites, and Drifters. In Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference 2018. New Orleans, LA : 02/05/18-02/08/18.
Garcia, O., Kourafalou, V. H., Hu, C., Sun, S., Graettinger, G., & DiPinto, L. (2018). Oil slick thickness measurement with a novel mechanical sampler. In Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference 2018. New Orleans, LA : 02/05/18-02/08/18: Poster.
Hole, L., Wettre, C., Asbjørnsen, H., Dagestad, K., Andoulidakis, I., Le Henaff, M., et al. (2018). Modeling and observations of oil drift in the Northern Gulf of Mexico: the role of river induced fronts. In Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference 2018. New Orleans, LA : 02/05/18-02/08/18.
Hu, C., Zhang, Y., Kourafalou, V. H., & Garcia, O. (2018). Frontal density of Gulf of Mexico derived from satellite ocean color measurements. In Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference 2018. New Orleans, LA : 02/05/18-02/08/18.
Kourafalou, V., Androulidakis, Y., Ozgokmen, T. M., Garcia, O., Lund, B., Le Henaff, M., et al. (2018). A Multi-platform Observational Study on Hydrocarbon Transport Under the Influence of River Induced Fronts. In Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference 2018. New Orleans, LA : 02/05/18-02/08/18.
Kourafalou, V. H., Androulidakis, I., Le Hénaff, M., Kang, H., Vaz, A., & Paris, C. (2018). Biophysical connectivity of coastal areas through oceanic currents in the Gulf of Mexico. In 12th Panhellenic Symposium of Oceanography and Fisheries. Corfu, Greece : 05/30/2018-06/3/2018.
Ntaganou, N., Kourafalou, V. H., & Le Hénaff, M. (2018). Topographic Controls on the Intensification of Loop Current Frontal Eddies in the Gulf of Mexico. In Ocean Sciences Meeting 2018. Portland, OR : 02/11/18-02/16/18: Poster.

2017

Garcia-Pineda, O., Hu, C., & Kourafalou, V. H. (2017). Tactical Oil Spill Observation with an Unmanned Aerial System. In Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference 2017. New Orleans, LA : 02/06/17-02/09/17.
Kourafalou, V. H., Androulidakis, Y., Le Henaff, M., Kang, H., Garcia, O., Hu, C., et al. (2017). River induced fronts and influence of shelf and mesoscale circulation on offshore removal of riverine waters: implications for hydrocarbon transport. In Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference 2017. New Orleans, LA : 02/06/17-02/09/17.
Kourafalou, V. H., Androulidakis, Y., Le Hénaff, M., Kang, H., Garcia, O., Hu, C., et al. (2017). Measuring and modeling the transport and fate of hydrocarbons in the Gulf of Mexico. In Sixth International Conference on Environmental Management, Engineering, Planning and Economics (CEMEPE). Thessaloniki, Greece : 06/25/17-06/30/17.
Le Hénaff, M., Muller-Karger, F., Kourafalou, V. H., Otis, D., & McEachron, L. (2017). Physical conditions associated with the coral mortality event of summer 2016 at the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary in the Gulf of Mexico. In Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference 2017. New Orleans, LA : 02/06/17-02/09/17.
Sun, S., Hu, C., Garcia, O., & Kourafalou, V. H. (2017). Assessment of oil spill from the former Taylor platform in the Gulf of Mexico. In Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference 2017. New Orleans, LA : 02/06/17-02/09/17.
Wettre, C., Hole, L., Dagestad, K., Kourafalou, V. H., Garcia, O., & Kang, H. (2017). Modeling the drift and spread of oil slicks in the Northern Gulf of Mexico using SAR imagery and forcing from a high-resolution hydrodynamic model. In Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference 2017. New Orleans, LA : 02/06/17-02/09/17.
Wettre, C., Hole, L., Dagestad, K., Rohrs, J., Kourafalou, V. H., Kang, H., et al. (2017). Modeling the drift and spread of oil slicks in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. In 5th GODAE OceanView Coastal Ocean and Shelf Seas Task Team (COSS-TT) International Coordination Meeting (COSS-ICM5). Cape Town, South Africa : 04/03/17-04/07/17.

2015

Androulidakis, Y., & Kourafalou, V. H. (2015). On the interaction of Mississippi River waters with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (Gulf of Mexico). In 36th IAHR World Congress. The Hague, Netherlands : 06/28/15-07/03/15.
Androulidakis, Y., & Kourafalou, V. H. (2015). Mississippi River plume and Deepwater Horizon oil spill. In 11th Panhellenic Symposium of Oceanography & Fisheries. Mytilene, Greece : 05/13/15-05/17/15.
Hole, L., Ghani, M. H., Fer, I., Kourafalou, V., Wienders, N., Kang, H., et al. (2015). The SailBuoy remotely-controlled unmanned vessel: measurements of near surface temperature, salinity and oxygen concentration in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. In Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference 2015. Houston, TX : 02/16/15-02/19/15: Poster.

2014

Kourafalou, V. H., & Androulidakis, Y. S. (2014). Influence of the Loop Current System on the transport and fate of Mississippi River waters under flooding conditions: a nested modeling approach. In Ocean Sciences Meeting 2014. Honolulu, HI : 02/23/14-02/28/14.
Wienders, N., L.R.H.,, Hasan, M., Peddie, D., Fer, I., & Kourafalou, V. (2014). Using the CMR Sailbuoy for Verification of Remote Sensing Measurements and Ocean Model Output in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. In American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. San Fransisco, CA - 12/09/13-12/13/13: Poster.

2013

Kourafalou, V. H., & Androulidakis, Y. (2013). Did the Mississippi River plume influence the surface spreading of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill patch? In Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference 2013. New Orleans, LA: 01/21/2013-01/23/2013.
Wienders, N., Hole, L. H., Hasan, M., Peddie, D., & Kourafalou, V. (2013). Gulf of Mexico Monitoring Via The Remotely Controlled CMR SailBuoy. In AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA. San Francisco, CA, December 9 - 13, 2013: Poster.
Wienders, N., Hole, L. R., Hassan, M., Fer, I., & Kourafalou, V. H. (2013). Using the CMR Sailbuoy for verification of remote sensing measurements in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. In American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. San Francisco, CA, June 16 - 19, 2012, San Francisco, California9 - 13: Poster.

2012

De Mey, P. J., He, R., Kourafalou, V., & Kurapov, A. (2012). Advances in Coastal Ocean Modeling, Analysis, and Prediction. In Ocean Sciences Meeting 2012. Salt Lake City, UT: 02/19/12-02/24/12.
Halliwell, G. R., Kourafalou, V. H., Srinivasan, A., Le Henaff, M., Yang, H., Willey, D., et al. (2012). Development and Evaluation of an Ocean OSSE System for the Gulf of Mexico. In Ocean Sciences Meeting 2012. Salt Lake City, UT: 02/19/12-02/24/12.
Kourafalou, V. H., Kang, H., Hogan, P., & Smedstad, O. M. (2012). On the role of Loop Current eddies in altering the oil pathways during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. In Ocean Sciences Meeting 2012. Salt Lake City, UT: 02/19/12-02/24/12.
Le Henaff, M., Kourafalou, V. H., Morel, Y., & Srinivasan, A. (2012). Intensification of the Loop Current frontal eddies in the Northern Gulf of Mexico: Role of the Topography. In Ocean Sciences Meeting 2012. Salt Lake City, UT: 02/19/12-02/24/12: Poster.
Paris, C. B., Le Henaff, M., Aman, Z. M., Helgers, J., Wang, D. P., Subramaniam, A., et al. (2012). Three-dimensional evolution of the Macondo well blowout: a nested numerical approach to the transport of oil. In Ocean Sciences Meeting 2012. Salt Lake City, UT: 02/19/12-02/24/12.
Paris, C. B., Le Henaff, M., Aman, Z., Suramaniam, A., Helgers, J., Wang, D. P., et al. (2012). Three dimensional evolution of the Macondo well blowout: a nested numerical approach to the transport of oil. In Ocean Sciences Meeting 2012. Salt Lake City, UT: 02/19/12-02/24/12.