Thermal infrared remote sensing of crude oil slicks

Journal Article · Sun Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Remote Sensing of Environment; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0034-4257(93)90044-X· OSTI ID:6061191

Salisbury, J W; D'Aria, D M ^[1]; Sabins, Jr, F F ^[2]

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1. Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore, MD (United States). Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences
2. Chevron Oil Field Research Co., La Habra, CA (United States)

It is important to develop a remote sensing technique for reliable detection of oil slicks for reasons of both oil exploration and environmental protection. Yet, unambiguous detection has proven an elusive goal. This article presents new thermal infrared spectra of oil slicks made from five different crude oil samples with a wide range of API gravities and compositions. After a brief outgassing phase, all oil slick spectra are quite similar and little affected by thickness, extended exposure to air or sunlight, and even by emulsification with seawater (mousse formation). Thus, oil slicks provide a remarkably unvarying spectral signature as remote sensing targets in the thermal infrared compared to other regions of the spectrum. This spectral signature in the 8-14 [mu]m atmospheric window is flat, with an average reflectance of 4%. Seawater, on the other hand, has a spectrum that varies in reflectance with wavelength in the 8-14 [mu]m window from 0.90 to 3.65%. In addition, the authors show that sea foam displays a reflectance spectrum quite similar to that of seawater in the 8-14 [mu]m region, because the very high absorption coefficient of water in this wavelength region prevents volume scattering in foam bubbles. This results in a relatively uniform spectral background, against which oil slicks can be detected, based on their different spectral signature. Thus, thermal infrared multispectral remote sensing appears to offer a simple and reliable technique for aircraft or satellite detection of oil slicks.

• OSTI ID: 6061191
• Journal Information: Remote Sensing of Environment; (United States), Journal Name: Remote Sensing of Environment; (United States) Vol. 45:2; ISSN RSEEA7; ISSN 0034-4257
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020900* -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AIRCRAFT
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFRARED SPECTRA
OIL SPILLS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
REMOTE SENSING
SATELLITES
SEAWATER
SPECTRA
THERMAL ANALYSIS
WATER
WATER POLLUTION