MICROWAVE EMISSION CHARACTERISTICS OF OIL SLICKS

Dependence of microwave emission on oil type, age, film thickness, observational wavelength, antenna viewing angle and polarization was examined in the laboratory. Airborne measurements of controlled oil spills were subsequently performed at wavelengths of 8.1 and 3.2 mm for several refined and crude oil slicks, over a broad range of ocean surface and weather conditions. Oil slicks on the ocean surface provide unique and readily measurable signatures. Lowest amplitude passive microwave signals were of the order of 5 deg K. A 5 deg K microwave temperature difference is well within the detection capabilities of airborne passive microwave imaging systems.

• Corporate Authors:

  American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

  1290 Avenue of the Americas
  New York, NY  United States  10019
• Authors:
  • Edgerton, A T
  • Meeks, D
  • Williams, D
• Publication Date: 1973-1

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 35-40
• Serial:
  • Journal of Hydronautics
  • Volume: 7
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Detectors; Identification systems; Measurement; Microwaves; Oil spill cleanup; Remote sensing
• Old TRIS Terms: Microwave measurement; Oil spill detection; Oil spill identification
• Subject Areas: Environment; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00043581
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 13 1973 12:00AM