OIL POLLUTION DETECTION AND DISCRIMINATION BY REMOTE SENSING TECHNIQUES

Airborne remote sensing techniques were applied to the detection and discrimination of pollution by oil on the ocean surface. The tests were performed in the Gulf of Mexico during April, 1970. Pollutants investigated included No. 2 fuel oil, No. 6 fuel oil, 9250 lube oil, light crude oil, heavy crude oil, gasoline, and mixtures of gasoline and oil. A total of 103 oil slicks were produced as a function of spill rate and ship speed. Ship speeds were nominally 10, 14, and 17 knots and spill rates ranged from 0.02 to greater than 4.0 GPM (Gallons per Minute). Sensors used during the airborne tests included; two dual polarized microwave radiometers operating at 10.2 and 30 GHz, an infrared scanner operated in both the 4-5.5 microns and 8-14 microns regions, a dual 70 mm camera sensing visible color and infrared color, a 4-lens camera employing filters from the mid-visible to ultraviolet wavelengths. Oil was detected on the sea surface at spill rates as low as 0.2 GPM for long wavelengths sensors and at the lowest spill rates for photographic imagery using an ultraviolet filter. Anomalously warm infrared radiometric temperatures were recorded in the 4-5.5 micron region for heavy crude oil while No. 6 fuel oil appeared radiometrically cooler. (Author)

• Corporate Authors:

  Spectran Incorporated

  Microwave Sensor Systems Division
  Hollywood, CA  United States 
• Authors:
  • Aukland, Jerry C
  • Trexler, Dennis T
• Publication Date: 1970-10-15

Media Info

• Pagination: 172 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Detectors; Infrared detectors; Oil spill cleanup; Oil spills
• Old TRIS Terms: Oil spill detection
• Subject Areas: Environment; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00015322
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: 1001-FUSCG-714104, A1006-1
• Contract Numbers: DOT-CG-03523
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 13 2003 12:00AM