ESA - Eduspace EN - Global Change - Exercise 1: Contributing to a cleaner ocean

Coastal change

Danube Delta change detection Oil spills

Deforestation

Bardia National Park Congo River Basin Kameng-Sonitpur Elephant Reserve Kilimanjaro Rondonia Shillong and Guwahati

Ice

Antarctica 2003 Climate change and glaciers Glacier analysis using radar imagery Glacial retreat in the Alps Glacier Ice Flow Monitoring of glaciers in the Himalayas Remote sensing of ice and snow

Urbanisation

Cairo City of Kathmandu Córdoba Himalayas Kathmandu Valley Lagos

Vegetation

Annapurna Conservation Area Lost in the Andes Ngorongoro Conservation Area Niger Inland Delta Vegetation in South America

Article Images

Exercise 1: Contributing to a cleaner ocean

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Braer oilspill, Shetland Islands, Scotland

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The Braer oilspill disaster, Shetland Islands, Scotland, January 1993.

Credits: Greenpeace

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Ship dumping sewage in the North Sea.

Credits: Greenpeace/Morgan

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The biggest contributor to oil pollution in the world's oceans is operational discharges from tankers. That is oil dumped during cleaning operations. The amount of oil introduced in the sea by such operations is equivalent to one full tanker disaster every week.

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In a radar image the ocean is black and white

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In a radar image the ocean is not blue but black and white and may also appear to have a lot of strange features. As a general rule, the brighter the sea surface, the rougher the sea (because wind speed is higher). But oil on the water dampens the rough surface and it becomes smooth again, and dark, as is shown in the image.

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Like its predecessor ERS-1 (launched in July 1991 by Ariane 4, the ERS-2 satellite (launched on 21 April 1995 also by Ariane 4) monitors the ground day and night under all weather conditions thanks to its powerful sharp-eyed, cloud-piercing radars. ERS-2 also carries an instrument to help monitor the ozone layer.

Credits: ESA

Oil spills

Introduction

Exercises

Help! A huge oil slick is approaching the coast!Exercise 3: Oil rig environmental disaster

Links

Norwegian Pollution Control Authority (SFT)

Eduspace - Software

LEOWorks 3

Eduspace - Download

Oil rig environmental disaster (PDF)Help! A huge oil slick is approaching the coast!Help! A huge oil slick is approaching the coast! (using LEOWorks)Help! A huge oil slick is approaching the coast! (report form)Contributing to a cleaner ocean Contributing to a cleaner ocean (report form)Contribution to a cleaner ocean (LEOWorks)