Spectral and Spatial Analysis of the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Using Satellite and In Situ Data

摘要

The explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig on April 20, 2010 resulted in what is now considered to be the largest oil spill in US history. Oil from the spill has reached the Louisiana marshes and will continue to impact the environment. Addressing the extent and impact of the oil spill will be a focus of study for several years. Investigations into spectral characteristics of the oil provided by satellite-based sensors are presented. Imagery from the MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Hyperspectral Imager for Coastal Ocean (HICO) have been collected and processed. MODIS provides daily remotely sensed multispectral data of the Gulf of Mexico. HICO is a hyperspectral sensor built by the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) and currently operating on the International Space Station (ISS). NRL is also responsible for the mission planning, targeting, and data processing for HICO data. Spectra from oil contaminated water and from uncontaminated water is inspected and the ability to identify features based on these spectra is investigated.