RADIOMETRIC DETECTION OF OIL SLICKS

A study has been performed to assess the feasibility of using microwave radiometry for detection of oil pollution. The investigation stems from the U. S. Coast Guards requirement for an airborne surveillance system which can detect oil pollution during inclement weather and during the hours of darkness. Laboratory and airborne measurements were made of a variety of oil base pollutants. Laboratory investigations included microwave response as a function of oil film thickness, physical temperature of the oil-water system, pollutant type sensor wavelength, antenna polarization, and observation angle. These studies consisted of dual-polarization radiometric measurements ( observational wavelengths of 0.8 cm and 2.2cm ) of Bunker C fuel oil, gasoline, and 20, 30, and 40 API gravity crude oil. The dielectric properties of these pollutants were also measured by means of a 0.81 cm ellipsometer. The results of the laboratory measurements were used to select the most suitable microwave radiometer for the airborne measurements. The airborne measurements were of small oil slicks on the open ocean off the Southern California Coast. Measurements were made from an aircraft instrumented with a dual-polarized 0.81 cm radiometer oriented with a forward antenna viewing angle of 45 deg from nadir. Pollutants examined during the tests include marine diesel fuel; 20, 30, and 40 API gravity crude oil; and a mixture of diesel fuel and 20-gravity oil. Measurements were made under various atmospheric and low sea state conditions, including several at night. ( Author )

• Corporate Authors:

  Aerojet General Corporation

  9200 East Flair Drive
  El Monte, CA  United States  91734
• Authors:
  • Edgerton, A T
  • Trexler, Dennis T
• Publication Date: 1970-1

Media Info

• Pagination: 127 p.

Subject/Index Terms

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

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00007003
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 25 1973 12:00AM