Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
Satellite monitoring of accidental and deliberate marine
oil pollution
Guido Ferraro, Dario Tarchi, Joaquim Fortuny, and Alois Sieber
European Commission - Directorate General Joint Research Centre,
Ispra, Italy
Abstract
. The present activities of the Joint Research Centre (JRC), a Di-
rectorate General of the European Commission, in the field of monitoring
sea-based oil pollution are described. The methodology used to process
and interpret a massive set of satellite images (i.e., mosaics over all Euro-
pean Seas) and the relevant legal framework are briefly introduced. Both
the issues of accidental and deliberate oil discharges are addressed. The
presentation then focuses on JRC experience acquired on the use of satel-
lite images during the Prestige accident emergency in 2002. At that time,
the JRC provided technical assistance on the interpretation of the satellite
images to the EC Civil Protection Mechanism and interested EU Member
States. In addition to this task, JRC is carrying out a systematic mapping of
the illicit vessel discharges using mosaics of satellite images over all the
European Seas. These maps and the associated statistics are repeated on an
annual basis in order to assess its evolution. The results obtained for the
Mediterranean and the Black Sea are of special interest due to the lack of a
regular aerial surveillance as that in the North and in the Baltic Sea. This
action helped to reveal for the first time the dimension of the oil pollution
problem, thus stressing the need for more concerted international actions.
Finally, a strategy to tackle this issue is presented. In this context, the need
for additional research efforts involving the competent regional/national
authorities and the importance of securing the role of space-borne sensors
in support to aerial and naval means are outlined. The proposed strategy is
based on the involvement of the end-users. Consequently, the JRC together
with DG Environment has established a permanent Group of Experts on
satellite monitoring of sea-based oil pollution.
