TOWARDS AN OPERATIONAL OIL-SPILL DETECTION SERVICE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN - THE NORWEGIAN EXPERIENCE - A PRE-OPERATIONAL EARLY WARNING DETECTION SERVICE USING ERS SAR DATA

A project for utilization of ERS-1 SAR data for detection of oil spill at sea was started in 1991 as part of the Norwegian Space Centre's (N SC) national ERS-1 programme. A pre-operational service utilising infr astructure for near real-time processing, analysing and distribution h as been developed. Tromso Satellite Station (TSS) took over the respon sibility for operation of the pilot service in 1994. The service cover s two different operational aspects, i.e. near real-time detection and early warning of possible oil spills at sea in close co-operation wit h national pollution control authorities, and offshore oil exploration activities for oil companies. A phased service development model has been applied, from R&D until the current pre-operational use of ERS-1 and ERS-2 SAR images. The developments include both service infrastruc ture and an operational concept. A number of important results regardi ng the detection capabilities of the ERS SAR have been derived. A cost -benefit analysis based upon Norwegian user requirements has documente d the satellite based service cost-effectiveness compared to aircraft surveillance. Finally, activities towards utilization of data from the future radar satellites have also been initiated. (C) 1997 Elsevier S cience Ltd.