Satellite monitoring of pollution in the Russian sector of the Azov and Black Seas in 2003–2007

Abstract

The results of satellite monitoring of pollution in the Russian sector of the Azov-Black Sea basin in 2003-2007 are considered. Within the framework of this work, a technology of monitoring the state and pollution of the water environment from satellite information received during this period from Russian and foreign satellites has been developed. With this technology, the coastal pollution parameters and hydrometeorological characteristics of the water environment in the area of observation were mapped operationally; 14 types of different satellite information products were issued daily; and the results were generalized over 3 days, ten days, a month, and a period of observation. Long-term satellite monitoring makes it possible to determine and analyze typical situations of pollution distribution in the coastal waters and to detect new circulation elements that transport pollutants, thus purifying the water environment. For example, for the first time, it was found from satellite data that the contribution of a small-scale circulation of waters of the Russian sector of the Black Sea to the transport and distribution of pollutants is commensurable with the contribution of the Main Black Sea Current and coastal anticyclonic eddies. The regularities in the dynamics of pollution distribution promote the increased reliability of charting of the environmental situation, including the prediction of dynamics of pollution spreading.

Space monitoring of pollution of the Russian sector of the Azov-Black Sea basin in 2008

“…The results of space monitoring carried out in April-October 2008 generally confirmed the conclusions made earlier about three basic types of water circulation and pollution distribution in the Russian sector of the Black Sea, which had been found in the course of similar operations in 2003-2007 [3]. Besides, additional results were obtained that specified the circulation character and variability in the MBSC.…”

“…MK-P9-01617, in April-October 2008, Roshydromet continued the activity conducted since 2003 on satellite monitoring of water pollution of the Russian sector of the Sea of Azov and Black Sea [3]. As in the previous years, the water pollution monitoring was carried out in a close connection with the operational observation of the hydrometeorological situation.…”

“…In the coastal water area adjoining river mouths, the turbidity of seawater increases, the areas over which intrawater suspension spreads increase substantially, local outbursts of phytoplankton bloom appear, and the amount of the floating garbage, foam, and surfactants including oil films increases. In spite of the fact that an abrupt intensification of the river runoff is short in duration, most episodes of large-scale intramass sea pollution occur in these periods [3].…”

Satellite Survey of Inner Seas: Oil Pollution in the Black and Caspian Seas

“…Previously, such maps were compiled only for the north-eastern part of the Black Sea [29]. We outlined areas of the heaviest surface pollution due to ship discharges.…”