RECENT EXPERIENCE FROM MULTIPLE REMOTE SENSING AND MONITORING TO IMPROVE OIL SPILL RESPONSE OPERATIONS

ABSTRACT Introducing regular aerial surveillance in 1981 and near-real time radar satellite detection services in 1992, Norway has obtained a substantial experience in multi sensor oil spill remote sensing. Since 2001 NOFO has been a driving force in the development and utilization of ship-based sensors for short to medium range oil spill detection, supplementing airborne and satellite remote sensing. During the NOFO Oil On Water Exercise in 2006 two satellites, four aircraft, one helicopter and two ships carrying wide range of sensors provided a unique opportunity to assess and compare remote sensing field data synchronized with ground-truth sampling from three sampling MOB-boats. The sampling boats were equipped for doing oil slick thickness measurements and physical-chemical characterization of the surface oil properties. A new vessel-based dispersant application system was field tested executing dispersant treatment of two oil slicks while supported by live infrared video transmitted to the vessel fro...