INTEGRATION OF REMOTE SENSING DATA INTO THE BSH OIL SPILL DRIFT
MODEL WITHIN THE GERMAN DEMARINE-ENVIRONMENT PROJECT
Carina Kuebert (1) , Dr. Bjorn Baschek (1) , Dr. Frank Janssen (2) , Stephan Dick (2)
(1) German Federal Institute of Hydrology (BJG), Am Maimer Tor I, 56068 Koblenz, Germany,
E-Mail: kueberttxpbafg.de, baschektxpbafg.de
<2) German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH), Bernhard-Nocht-Str. 78, 20359 Hamburg, Germany,
E-Mail: frank.janssentxpbsh.de, stephan.dicktxpbsh.de
ABSTRACT
The pre-operational integration of information extracted
from remote sensing data into the processing chain of
the existing BSH oil spill drift model is an achievement
of the subproject “Oil Spill Drift Modelling” of the
German DeMarine-Enviromnent project. The Federal
Institute of Hydrology (BfG) and the Federal Maritime
and Hydro graphic Agency (BSH) are the partners of this
subproject with the Central Command for Maritime
Emergencies (CCME) as its main user. The new
software tool REviSED extracts information about
position and extent of possible oil spills from satellite
or aircraft data and produces the input files for the BSH
drift model. Thus, the processing chain was updated and
the model workflow was further automated and
optimised. This speeds up potential response to
pollution events while respecting the importance of
validity checks and possible adaptation of parameters by
the model operators. The revised processing chain as
well as a case study are presented.
1. INTRODUCTION AND MOTIVATION
DeMarine;^)
Environment
Subproject (SP)1:
Coordination and User Office
SP 2:
Water
Quality in
Coastal
Waters
SP 3:
Oil Spill Drift
Modeling
SP 4:
Wadden Sea
Monitoring
SP 5:
Data
Assimilation
Figure 1. DeMarine-Enviromnent Project
DeMarine is a German contribution to GMES funded by
the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology
(BMWi) through the German Aerospace Center (DLR).
This project was started in 2008 with a duration of tluee
years and consists of two parts: DeMarine-Security and
DeMarine-Enviromnent [1], [2]. The first one addresses
topics like safety and security in coastal and sea traffic
[1]; the second one focuses on enhancements
concerning marine environmental monitoring and
surveillance to fulfil user needs in an optimal way ([3],
[4]). This paper addresses “Oil Spill Drift Modelling”
that is one of five DeMarine-Enviromnent subprojects
(cf. Fig. 1).
Germany uses a combined system of aerial remote
sensing by Domier 228 aircraft equipped with a multisensor
system and radar satellites for maritime oil
pollution surveillance and as a support for oil spill
combating vessels. In particular cases, an oil spill drift
model is run for receiving a forecast of the drift path or -
by backtracking - possible positions of potential
sources. Before DeMarine, there was no automatic
linkage between remote sensing and drift modelling.
The available remote sensing data include information
about spill occurrence, its position as well as its spatial
distribution which are essential input parameters for oil
spill drift modelling.
2. ELEMENTS OF THE MONITIORING
SYSTEM
Satellite services and aircraft on the one hand and the oil
spill drift model on the other hand build together a
combined monitoring system. The individual parts are
highlighted in the following.
2.1. Remote Sensing Data
Remote sensing data for monitoring oil pollutions on
water surfaces is used since the 1980s due to relative
low costs for observing large areas [5]. SLAR and SAR
systems allow a permanent and inordinate observation
because of atmospheric and illumination independences
[6]. For a long time, only radar sensors on aircraft were
available for operational maritime surveillance. Starting
with several projects as e.g. OCEANIDES or MarCoast
also satellite-based radar was introduced into the
operational use as an additional tool. In Europe mainly
images from ENVISAT, Radarsat-1 and Radarsat-2 are
used. Since 2007 the European Maritime Safety Agency
(EMSA) is offering CleanSeaNet (CSN) [7], a satellite
service for oil spill detection, as a support service for
Member States for their pollution control.
Proc. ‘ESA Living Planet Symposium \ Bergen, Norway
28 June - 2 July 2010 (ESA SP-686, December 2010)
