Wei Zhou island
 
 
A thin, continuous stream of oil trickles into the sea from oil platforms in the Gulf of Tonkin, reaching the coast of southern China and causing concern among its population.

Marine flora and fauna, as well as delicate coastal ecosystems, are being destroyed not only by major environmental disasters such as the sinking of oil tankers, but also by small but continuous quantities of oil being washed into the sea; these are due to the widespread but illegal practice of washing out tankers’ holds at sea, and to leaks from offshore plants.

Satellites such as COSMO-SkyMed, equipped with microwave radar sensors, are particularly useful for monitoring the seas in search of oil leaks. Oil spreads out on the surface of the sea, forming a thin film that flattens the small surface ripples caused by the wind. These ripples provide the signals for radar imaging, and oil slicks therefore show up as dark areas on the images. The wispy area shows the slick being carried along by surface currents.
 
Download image: This COSMO-SkyMed image shows a major oil spill
after a ship sank in the Yellow Sea off the Chinese coast early in September 2008



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