Volumetric Determination of Marine Oil Spills Using Coordinated Airborne and Surface Sampling Data

Abstract

ABSTRACT The detection, measurement, and monitoring of oil pollution in the marine environment are receiving increased attention owing to: I) the growing incidence of oil spills; 2) the associated need for improved cleanup procedures; and, 3) the need for more effective surveillance systems, capable of gathering legal evidence for the prosecution of violators. The Geography Remote Sensing Unit and the Department of Chemical and Nuclear Engineering at the University of California, Santa Barbara for 2 1/2 years has been conducting experiments related to the application of remotely sensed data to these problem areas. As part of a United States Coast Guard test of a high seas oil containment device, a system for estimating the volume of oil loss resulting from oil pollution incidents was developed. This system involved the coordination of remote sensing data acquisition with simultaneous collection of surface sampling data. Results indicate that remotely sensed data, when effectively correlated with surface sampling data, can provide a base for volumetric estimations of a given oil slick. Refinements of these techniques can lead to more efficient, real-time day/night, operational monitoring of marine oil pollution incidents.