Laser Sensing for Monitoring and Elimination of Oil Pollution at Sea

Abstract

This article discusses the spectral features of laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) for oil products in various states (solutions in seawater and thin slicks). This study was conducted to evaluate the use of LIF for the identification of oil products and the quantification of ocean pollution caused by bilge water disposal. It was discovered that the form of the LIF spectral distribution changed depending on the state of the oil product (pure fuel, slick or solution). The LIF method was calibrated at the standard measurement method of solution concentrations for the most common types of heavy and light marine fuels, and limit of detection (LoD) values were formed for each type. The solution spectra's time dynamics were investigated, and time change features were identified. The small-scale LIF sensor for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is described, with the goal of investigating the LIF for oil pollution at sea. It has been experimentally shown that the LIF method has good perspective for studying the effectiveness of the use of dispersants to eliminate oil films on the sea surface and to study the impact of oil pollution and dispersants in the elimination of oil films on the state of phytoplankton communities.