DBWM: A diluted bitumen weathering model

To help better assist the management of Diluted bitumen (DilBit) spills in marine environment, a model named as DilBit Weathering Model (DBWM) was developed in this study to simulate DilBits weathering in marine environment. The DBWM was developed based on specific algorithms for evaporation, dispersion, biodegradation, as well as density and viscosity changes for DilBit weathering and other widely used algorithms for conventional oil weathering in marine environment. To validate the model, a series of DilBit weathering simulation were conducted and compared with the experimental data. Furthermore, the performance of DBWM was compared with a widely used oil weathering model (Automated Data Inquiry for Oil Spills, ADIOS2). The results demonstrated the feasibility and advantages of the developed DBWM in simulating the weathering of marine DilBit spills. Thus, the proposed DBWM can provide effective decision support to marine DilBit spill management. •A DBWM has been developed for diluted bitumen weathering in marine environment.•The developed DBWM was validated with experimental data and compared with ADIOS2.•The results demonstrated the feasibility of DBWM in simulating marine DilBit spills.•The DBWM can provide effective decision support to marine DilBit spill management.