Abstract
In the contrary to surface oil slicks, dispersed oil pollution is not yet detected or monitored on regular basis. The possible range of changes of the local optical properties of seawater caused by the occurrence of dispersed oil, as well as the dependencies of changes on various physical and environmental factors, can be estimated using simulation techniques. Two models were combined to examine the influence of oceanic water type on the visibility of dispersed oil: the Monte Carlo radiative transfer model and the Lorenz–Mie model for spherical oil droplets suspended in seawater. Remote sensing reflectance, Rrs, was compared for natural ocean water models representing oligotrophic, mesotrophic and eutrophic environments (characterized by chlorophyll-a concentrations of 0.1, 1 and 10 mg/m3, respectively) and polluted by three different kinds of oils: biodiesel, lubricant oil and crude oil. We found out that dispersed oil usually increases Rrs values for all types of seawater, with the highest effect for the oligotrophic ocean. In the clearest studied waters, the absolute values of Rrs increased 2–6 times after simulated dispersed oil pollution, while Rrs band ratios routinely applied in bio-optical models decreased up to 80%. The color index, CI, was nearly double reduced by dispersed biodiesel BD and lubricant oil CL, but more than doubled by crude oil FL.
Highlights
In near-shore areas, the majority of oil products that enter the sea because of human activity come from typically small but frequent and widespread releases, such as river inflows, containing industrial and agricultural runoff, or daily shipping activities [1,2]
Until now, there have been no methods for the remote detection of dispersed forms of oil pollution, which is very significant for the life on our planet
Visibility of oil droplets depends on the knowledge of the inherent optical properties of dispersed oil as well as the translucency of seawater
Summary
In near-shore areas, the majority of oil products that enter the sea because of human activity come from typically small but frequent and widespread releases, such as river inflows, containing industrial and agricultural runoff, or daily shipping activities [1,2]. While natural dispersion occurs within days to months after an oil spill depending on oil type, wave action and some environmental conditions [5], chemically induced oil dispersion occurs much faster, usually within hours to days after spillage [9,10]. Dispersed oil pollution is no less a threat to the marine life than oil spilled on the sea surface It affects filter-feeding organisms and their primary consumers e.g., [11,12,13], sea bottom fauna and their consumers [14,15] as well as plankton composition [16,17]. It reduces biodiversity and accelerates the eutrophication process [18,19]
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