Abstract
Remote sensing is an effective means to monitor oil discharge from oil tankers. This paper discusses the evaluation of remote sensing data of oil discharge from an oil tanker in Tokyo Bay on July 2, 1997 collected by air borne and satellite sensors.
Air borne remote sensing data of oil spill were collected from July 2, to July 5, under clear skies. Both color aerial photographs and thermal IR images were taken 6 hours and 20 minutes after the out break of oil discharge. This series of data captured the entire oil spill from the oil tanker. By using this data, thickness of oil spill was classified and the volume of discharged oil was estimated.
The results are as follows:
(1) Air borne remote sensing data were collected 6 hours and 20 minutes after the out break of oil discharge. The total volume of the discharge was 1,556 kl. Analysis of color photographs and thermal IR images could detect the dimension of the oil spill.
(2) By using color aerial photographs and thermal IR images, oil slick was classified into three thickness levels. Volume of oil of each thickness class was calculated.
(3) Thermal IR data could detect the thick oil area and this indicated that the thermal IR data is useful for the planning of oil recovery and chemical treatment.
