Multisensor satellite monitoring of seawater state and oil pollution in the northeastern coastal zone of the Black Sea

Abstract

A new approach aimed at a better understanding of the state of pollution of the Black Sea coastal zone is suggested. It consists of the combined use of all available quasi-concurrent satellite information (NOAA AVHRR, TOPEX/ Poseidon, Jason-1, Terra/Aqua MODIS, Envisat ASAR, ERS-2 SAR and QuikSCAT) and was first applied during an operational seawater monitoring campaign in the coastal zone of the northeastern Black Sea conducted in 2006. The monitoring is based on daily receiving, processing and analysis of data different in nature (microwave radar images, optical and infrared data), resolution and surface coverage. These data allow us to retrieve information on seawater pollution, sea surface and air-sea boundary layer conditions, seawater temperature and suspended matter distributions, chlorophyll-a concentration, mesoscale water dynamics, near-surface wind, and surface wave fields. Such an approach helps in oil spill detection with synthetic aperture radar (SAR), especially in distinguishing oil slicks from look-alikes. The focus is on coastal seawater circulation mechanisms and their impact on the evolution of pollutants.

Computer Based Technologies in Marine Sciences

“… the observations of hydrodynamic parameters such as the reduction of sea currents, turbulence and direction of waves [13,14].…”

Oil Pollution in the Southeastern Baltic Sea in 2009-2011

“…The technology of multisensor satellite monitoring of the sea surface was developed and tuned by a consortium of research teams, including the research groups from Space Research Institute, P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Geophysical Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Marine Hydrophysical Institute (Kostianoy et al, 2005;2006;2007;Shcherbak et al, 2008;Lavrova et al, 2009;2011).…”