Use of airborne thermal imagery to detect and monitor inshore oil spill residues during darkness hours

Journal Article · Sun Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1998 · Environmental Management

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s002679900157· OSTI ID:659022

Grierson, I T ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Adelaide, South Australia (Australia). Dept. of Soil Science

Trials were conducted using an airborne video system operating in the visible, near-infrared, and thermal wavelengths to detect two known oil spill releases during darkness at a distance of 10 nautical miles from the shore in St. Vincent`s Gulf, South Australia. The oil spills consisted of two 20-liter samples released at 2-h intervals, one sample consisted of paraffinic neutral material and the other of automotive diesel oil. A tracking buoy was sent overboard in conjunction with the release of sample 1, and its movement monitored by satellite relay. Both oil residues were overflown by a light aircraft equipped with thermal, visible, and infrared imagers at a period of approximately 1 h after the release of the second oil residue. Trajectories of the oil residue releases were also modeled and the results compared to those obtained by the airborne video and the tracking buoy. Airborne imagery in the thermal wavelengths successfully located and mapped both oil residue samples during nighttime conditions. Results from the trial suggest that the most advantageous technique would be the combined use of the tracking beacon to obtain an approximate location of the oil spill and the airborne imagery to ascertain its extent and characteristics.

• OSTI ID: 659022
• Journal Information: Environmental Management, Journal Name: Environmental Management Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 22; ISSN EMNGDC; ISSN 0364-152X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AUSTRALIA
DIESEL FUELS
MONITORING
OIL SPILLS
REMOTE SENSING
SEAS
WATER POLLUTION