CLARA : an integrated project to analyse and determine the consequences of a chemical spill on west French coast

Abstract : When a chemical pollution occurs on European coasts, population and authorities aspire to a faster and more effective management of the pollution to limit its consequences. Currently, the French authorities in charge of public health and economic protection during a marine pollution need a fast, simple and reliable data tool-processing to manage crises. However, very few software are able to predict of the evolution of a chemical pollutant in water or the atmosphere, nor to give any information about bio-accumulation possibilities, nor to assess hazards due to the chemical spill. This particular context of marine pollution crisis management led to the CLARA project (Calculation related to accidental releases in seawater). This operational software will model the consequences of an accidental chemical spill in the sea.