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Chronic oiling in global oceans.
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Summary
This study maps global ocean oil slicks using satellite data. Anthropogenic discharges, not natural seeps, are the primary source of marine oil pollution.
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Area of Science:
- Marine pollution
- Remote sensing
- Environmental monitoring
Background:
- Ocean oil slicks originate from natural seepages and human activities.
- Global distribution and the balance of natural versus anthropogenic oil slick sources are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create the first global map of oil slicks.
- To identify and inventory static and persistent sources of marine oil pollution.
- To determine the relative contributions of natural seepages and anthropogenic discharges to ocean oil slicks.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 563,705 Sentinel-1 satellite images from 2014 to 2019.
- Identification and mapping of oil slick distribution worldwide.
- Quantification of oil slick sources, distinguishing between natural seeps, platforms, and pipelines.
Main Results:
- Approximately 90% of observed oil slicks were located within 160 km of coastlines.
- Twenty-one high-density oil slick zones correlated strongly with major shipping lanes.
- Anthropogenic discharges accounted for 94% of oil slick area, significantly higher than the 6% from natural seepages.
Conclusions:
- The study provides a comprehensive global overview of marine oil slick distribution and sources.
- Current anthropogenic contributions to marine oil pollution, based on slick area, are substantially greater than previously estimated.
- Findings highlight the significant impact of human activities on ocean oil pollution and the underestimation of anthropogenic sources.