TITLE:
Utility of Microwave and Optical Remote Sensing in Oil Spill Detection in the Mangrove Region of Nigeria
AUTHORS:
Toju Francis Balogun
KEYWORDS:
Mangrove, Fragile Ecosystem, Environmental Degradation, Oil Spill, Monitoring
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.3 No.1,
March
23,
2015
ABSTRACT: The mangrove interfaces between land and sea and provides appropriate
ecosystem and habitat and breeding ground for fishes and sea animals. However,
it is also a fragile ecosystem which is exposed to environmental degradation
due to oil exploration activities. Concern for mangrove environment demands
that mapping of the mangrove environment should be carried out so as to know
its current status. Conventional method is inadequate to achieve this due to
the difficult terrain of the region. This research aims at detecting and
mapping the presence of oil spill on water and land in the mangroves using
microwave and optical remote sensing. The result proves that optical remote sensing has the potentials for detecting
oil spill on the waterway. It also has the capability
to detect oil spill on ground using the effects of oil on vegetation as proxy.
The study is concluded by recommending further research work on radar as it
could not discriminate between the backscatter of oil on land and that of soil
with high water content.