Potential applications of remote sensing techniques for the study of marine oil pollution

Abstract

The detection and measurement of oil pollution in the marine environment are procedures requiring a broad range of instrumentation capabilities within an equally broad range of environmental conditions. Due to the complex behavior of oil on water, its susceptibility to transport and modification forces, and the physiochemical anomalies associated with its presence, both aerial and surface sensors are necessary to establish a complete and effective monitoring system. Remote sensors, operating in the ultraviolet, thermal infrared, and microwave portions of the electromagnetic spectrum, exhibit potentially good oil detection capabilities. Radar, in particular, possesses a strong capability for the mapping of an oil slick's areal extent since it is operative even under adverse weather conditions, day or night. Since no remote sensor system is presently capable of providing accurate information on the type or thickness of an oil slick, surface-based mechanisms must be utilized to gather ground truth data. These measurements, including the collection of radiometric, meteorological, and oceanographic information, are essential for a comparative analysis of remotely sensed data and their interpretation. More research is needed in the realm of remote sensing and ground truth data collection systems, including their coordination, if an operationally feasible system for monitoring marine oil pollution is to be developed.