Marina I. Mityagina

Operational satellite monitoring of oil spill pollution in the Southeastern Baltic Sea: 1.5 Years experience

In June 2003 LUKOIL-Kaliningradmorneft initiated a pilot project, aimed to the complex monitoring of the southeastern Baltic Sea, in connection with a beginning of oil production at continental shelf of Russia in March 2004. Operational monitoring was performed in June 2004-November 2005 on the base of daily satellite remote sensing (AVHRR NOAA, MODIS, TOPEX/Poseidon, Jason-1, ENVISAT ASAR and RADARSAT SAR imagery) of sea surface temperature (SST), sea level, chlorophyll concentration, mesoscale dynamics, wind and waves, and oil spills. As a result a complex information on oil pollution of the sea, SST, distribution of suspended matter, chlorophyll concentration, sea currents and meteorological parameters has been received. In total 274 oil spills were detected in 230 ASAR ENVISAT images (400×400 km, 75 m/pixel resolution) and 17 SAR RADARSAT images (300×300 km, 25 m/pixel resolution) received during 18 months. The interactive numerical model Seatrack Web SMHI (The Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute) was used for a forecast of the drift of (1) all large oil spills detected by ASAR ENVISAT in the southeastern Baltic Sea and (2) virtual (simulated) oil spills from the D-6 platform. The latter was done daily for operational correction of the action plan for accident elimination at the D-6 and ecological risk assessment (oil pollution of the sea and the Curonian Spit). Probability of the oil spill drift directed to the Curonian Spit equals to 67%, but only in a half of these cases oil spills could reach the coast during 48 h after an accidental release of 10 m3 of oil.

Multisensor satellite monitoring of seawater state and oil pollution in the northeastern coastal zone of the Black Sea

A new approach aimed at a better understanding of the state of pollution of the Black Sea coastal zone is suggested. It consists of the combined use of all available quasi‐concurrent satellite information (NOAA AVHRR, TOPEX/Poseidon, Jason‐1, Terra/Aqua MODIS, Envisat ASAR, ERS‐2 SAR and QuikSCAT) and was first applied during an operational seawater monitoring campaign in the coastal zone of the northeastern Black Sea conducted in 2006. The monitoring is based on daily receiving, processing and analysis of data different in nature (microwave radar images, optical and infrared data), resolution and surface coverage. These data allow us to retrieve information on seawater pollution, sea surface and air–sea boundary layer conditions, seawater temperature and suspended matter distributions, chlorophyll‐a concentration, mesoscale water dynamics, near‐surface wind, and surface wave fields. Such an approach helps in oil spill detection with synthetic aperture radar (SAR), especially in distinguishing oil slicks from look‐alikes. The focus is on coastal seawater circulation mechanisms and their impact on the evolution of pollutants.

Signatures of resonant and non-resonant scattering mechanisms on radar images of internal waves

The results of two polarization airborne radar imagery tests of the ocean surface obtained during the JUSREX92 experiment are presented. It is shown that the traditional composite surface model with small-scale Bragg waves superposed over larger gravity waves can not explain either the contrasts of internal wave surface manifestations in conditions of a stable atmospheric boundary layer at low grazing angles (LGA), or the apparent difference between the images obtained at different polarizations in unstable atmospheric conditions. We attribute this discrepancy to the presence of mesoscale steep waves, which produce non-resonant scattering and make different relative contributions to the total cross sections for the two polarizations. The possibility of distinguishing between surface manifestations of atmospheric and oceanic origin is also discussed.

Multi-sensor survey of seasonal variability in coastal eddy and internal wave signatures in the north-eastern Black Sea

In this paper the remote sensing satellite sensor data (obtained by Envisat Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR), Terra and Aqua Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) instruments) is used to study coastal dynamics of the north-eastern Black Sea. Occurrence, evolution and drift of small-scale eddies in coastal waters are investigated. Seasonal variability of their manifestations is established. Instances of surface manifestations of non-tidal internal waves (IW) are discovered. The main finding was that practically all cases of IW manifestations were observed in the vicinity of mesoscale sea eddy structures or hydrological fronts. The joint analysis of data from different sensors was performed to reveal specific conditions leading to the intensification of wave processes and to their manifestation in radar imagery as well as to determine possible sources of the IW generation.

Two-polarization Ku-band radar imagery of sea surface in presence of atmospheric boundary layer motions

Abstract The influence of atmospheric boundary layer stability on radar imagery at two polarizations is considered. A strong dependence of ripple manifestations on the relative directions of sounding and the wind is noted in vertically polarized images. The main mechanisms for modulation of resonant scattering ripples by long surface waves are examined.

Satellite monitoring of oil slicks on the Black Sea surface

This paper summarizes the results of perennial combined satellite monitoring of the Black Sea conducted in order to detect sea-surface oil and oil-product pollution, as well as biogenic and anthropogenic surfactant films. A joint analysis of data obtained by various remote sensing techniques has been performed. The large amount of data has resulted in generalizations and reliable statistics on the spatial and temporal variability of different film manifestations in radar images of the sea surface. Regions most severely polluted by petroleum products have been identified. A hypothesis is suggested linking the surface manifestations of certain types of polluting films with natural gas and oil seeps and mud volcanism in the Black Sea. Improvements in the reliability of interpreting satellite data are discussed.

Satellite Monitoring of Oil Pollution in the Southeastern Baltic Sea

The chapter shows the examples and results of satellite monitoring of oil pollution in the Southeastern Baltic Sea obtained in 2004–2012. The beginning of this work was initiated by “LUKOIL-Kaliningradmorneft” in relation to installation of the D-6 offshore platform and production of oil in spring 2004. The results clearly show that the Southeastern Baltic Sea is highly polluted by oil products, and that this is related to intense shipping activities in the region. No pollution in the vicinity of the D-6 oil platform was detected during these years. Interannual variability of the number and surface of oil spills, as well as their seasonal and diurnal variability is discussed. The problem of transboundary oil pollution transport between EEZs of Poland, Russia, and Lithuania is highlighted.

Satellite Monitoring of the Nord Stream Gas Pipeline Construction in the Gulf of Finland

This chapter explains the need for comprehensive satellite environmental monitoring of the Nord Stream gas pipeline construction in the Baltic Sea, including monitoring of oil pollution, the spread of suspended matter, algal bloom, and thermal effects at the sea surface. Examples of the different types of the observed contamination along the pipeline route long before the pipeline construction are shown. This chapter is focused on the results of oil pollution monitoring during the pipeline construction, and also shows the results concerning the satellite monitoring of ice cover, suspended matter, algal bloom, and thermal effects on the sea surface in the Gulf of Finland.

Study of internal wave generation and propagation features in non-tidal seas based on satellite synthetic aperture radar data

Despite the intense attention paid to internal wave (IW) investigation, the most experimentally studied and theoretically described are internal gravitational waves in shelf zones of oceans and tidal seas appearing during the interaction of tidal currents with the margin of the shelf. Information on surface manifestations of internal waves in enclosed seas, such as the Black and Caspian seas, is almost absent. In this paper, the results of study of the peculiarities of generation and propagation of nontidal internal waves are presented; the study is carried out on the basis of combined analysis in data of marine surface radiolocation and data of optical and infrared satellite-borne sensors. The experimental basis of investigation is radar images of the marine surface derived with the help of Synthetic Aperture Radars, onboard the Envisat and ERS-2 satellites. Additionally, the data of the following sensors belonging to the optical and infrared ranges were used for the purpose of radar image interpretation: MODIS (onboard the Aqua/Terra satellite), MERIS (Envisat), and AVHRR (NOAA). Surface manifestations of IWs in the northeastern part of the Black Sea and in the Caspian Sea have been found in radar imagery for the first time, their pattern of spatial and temporal variation has been reconstructed. The possible factors leading to generation of the observed nontidal IWs are determined and suppositions about the corresponding generation mechanisms are made. In particular, the IW manifestations recorded in the northeastern part of the Black Sea are localized in the vicinity of the boundaries of eddies or hydrological fronts; this fact evidences for the frontal mechanism of generation, at which IWs are radiated by a nonstationary (moving and/or inertially oscillating) front. The most probable main sources of generation of IWs detected in the Caspian Sea are longitudinal one-knot seiches, whose knot point is located near the Apsheron sill.

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

The paper discusses our studies of oil pollution in the Black and Caspian Seas. The research was based on a multi-sensor approach on satellite survey data. A combined analysis of oil film signatures in satellite synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and optical imagery was performed. Maps of oil spills detected in satellite imagery of the whole aquatic area of the Black Sea and the Middle and the Southern Caspian Sea are created. Areas of the heaviest pollution are outlined. It is shown that the main types of sea surface oil pollution are ship discharges and natural marine hydrocarbon seepages. For each type of pollution and each sea, regions of regular pollution occurrence were determined, polluted areas were estimated, and specific manifestation features were revealed. Long-term observations demonstrate that in recent years, illegal wastewater discharges into the Black Sea have become very common, which raises serious environmental issues. Manifestations of seabed hydrocarbon seepages were also detected in the Black Sea, primarily in its eastern part. The patterns of surface oil pollution of the Caspian Sea differ considerably from those observed in the Black Sea. They are largely determined by presence of big seabed oil and gas deposits. The dependence of surface oil SAR signatures on wind/wave conditions is discussed. The impact of dynamic and circulation processes on oil films drift and spread is investigated. A large amount of the data available allowed us to make some generalizations and obtain statistically significant results on spatial and temporal variability of various surface film manifestations.The examples and numerical data we provide on ship spills and seabed seepages reflect the influence of the pollution on the sea environment.