--> Abstract: Offshore Oil Seep Detection Using RADARSAT SAR, by G. C. Staples, J. R. Everett, and D. Nazarenko; #90933 (1998).

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Abstract: Offshore Oil Seep Detection Using RADARSAT SAR

Staples, Gordon C. - RADARSAT Int'l., Canada; Everett, John R. - EarthSat, USA; Nazarenko, Dennis - RADARSAT Int'l., Canada

Spaceborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) has been successfully used for offshore oil seep detection. Seep detection is based on the ability of the SAR to discriminate between the wind-roughened ocean surface and the oil-induced smoothing of the ocean surface. The probability of seep detection is a function of three main variables: wind speed, SAR incidence angle, and SAR resolution. A minimum wind speed is required to cause a surface roughness difference between the oil and ocean surface, and beyond a maximum wind speed, the backscatter signature from the oil is lost due to stronger backscatter from the ocean surface. A small incidence angle is optimal for detection, although detection at large incidence angles has been reported, and for fixed data-downlink rates, SAR resolution is coupled to the SAR swath width.

The intent of this paper is to investigate the utility of using RADARSAT Wide beam and ScanSAR Narrow data for oil seep detection in the Gulf of Mexico. Four RADARSAT Wide beam (30 m nominal resolution and 165 km swath width) and four ScanSAR Narrow (50 m resolution and 300 km swath width) were acquired during November and December, 1997. During the acquisitions, buoy measurements of the wind field were obtained. Data analysis will focus on a quantitative assessment of oil seep detection as a function of wind speed and RADARSAT beam mode. An assessment of RADARSAT's ability to detect oil seeps in other ocean basins (where sea surface temperature may be an issue) will also be presented.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90933©1998 ABGP/AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil