Usage of SAR images in oil spill detection, a case study in the Northern Persian Gulf

Oil spill discharges into the marine environment can result in many environmental and economical damages. Because of the importance of the marial environment, the rapid detection of oil pollution is essential. The excessive transport of ships in the Persian Gulf and the presence of oil facilities in that area, have polluted the waters of the Persian Gulf and have had a negative impact on its environment. Remote sensing of satellites is an effective technology for aerial monitoring of an area and early and permanent detection of oil pollution there. Due to its extensive coverage and near-real-time image capture, particularly SAR technology, remote sensing technology has been highly regarded by researchers due to its efficiency in all weather conditions and its high ability to detect oil spills. This study has been done by the use of sentinel-۱ satellite data in the Northern of the Persian Gulf. In this study, oil spills were detected automatically using the SNAP Ocean tool and after visualization, contaminants with an area of ۳۹ square kilometers were identified in the area.

Keywords:

Sentinel-۱ , SAR images , Oil pollution , SNAP Ocean tool , Oil spills , Remote Sensing of environment.