Aerial observation of oil pollution at sea

This publication, dedicated to aerial observation, is an update of the guide published in 2009.
This operational guide is naturally intended to be carried on board all aircraft likely to be involved in aerial observation missions for oil and chemical pollution at sea.
However it is also a useful tool in pollution response centres and response management centers (CROSS and COM), and as a technical support for communication units.

Table of contents

A GENERAL ASPECTS

A.1 - Objectives of pollution detection and reconnaissance
A.2 - Aerial observation and other techniques
A.3 - Oil and oil products
A.4 - Basic physical characteristics
A.5 - Oil weathering
A.6 - Behaviour of other products
A.7 - Appearance of slicks at sea
A.8 - Slick structure
A.9 - Appearance of slicks on the coast
A.10 - Drift of floating substances
A.11 - Drift modelling
A.12 - Observation platforms: aircraft
A.13 - Other observation platforms
A.14 - Remote sensing
A.15 - Objectives and findings of aerial surveys
A.16 - Information processing
A.17 - Gas detection/measurement
A.18 - MARPOL 73/78 Convention

B TECH SHEETS

B.1 - Preparing an aerial survey
B.2 - Flight safety
B.3 - Pollution search methods
B.4 - Flight profile
B.5 - Use of drifting buoys
B.6 - Slick appearance
B.7 - Bonn Agreement Oil Appearance Code
B.8 - Shipboard observation
B.9 - Photographic and video imagery
B.10 - Aerial photography
B.11 - Remote sensing
B.12 - Use of UAVs
B.13 - Satellite-based detection
B.14 - Guiding and assessing the performance of response operations
B.15 - Mapping
B.16 - Calculating quantities
B.17 - Examples of other products
B.18 - False positives

C DOCUMENT TEMPLATES

C.1 - Standard pollution reporting format (POLREP)
C.2 - Survey report template included in the contingency plan
C.3 - Bonn Agreement pollution observation/detection log

D FURTHER INFORMATION

D.1 - Glossary and acronyms
D.2 - Bibliography and useful websites