Radarsat Lagrangian flow effects on oil spill spreading

This paper presents work done utilizing Radarsat fine mode data to model the Lagrangian effects on oil spill trajectory model. The input for the model is current field derived from a 2 D hydrodynamic model. The correlation statistical model was applied to modulate the Radarsat water movements with current field by applying Doppler frequency shift model. The study shows that current movements are the main effect on oil spill spreading compared to wind speed and direction. Verification of simulation results with those of tidal current model shows a good agreement in the direction of the oil spill movements. In conclusion, Radarsat data has good potential for oil spills detection and mapping. Radarsat data could be used to model the Lagrangian effects on oil spill trajectory model. The main effect on the oil spill movements in Malacca Straits is the tidal current flow.