PROBLEMS OF REMOTE DIAGNOSTICS OF MINERAL OIL IN SEA WATER: 
OIL FILMS AND OIL DISPERSED IN THE WATER BODY 
Svetlana V. Patsayeva 
Science Researcher, Physics Department, Moscow State University, Moscow 119899 Russia 
Commission VII, Working Group 8 
KEY WORDS: Environment, Pollution, Sea, Monitoring, Spectral Data, Method 
ABSTRACT: 
The global ecological problems we are facing nowdays urge us on creating the new methods of environmental 
monitoring. This work is aimed to make a contribution into the elaboration of sensitive and express technique for 
monitoring of oil spills in natural water. The work presents spectroscopic study of different crude and refined oils a; 
well as their mixtures with water. It is shown that fluorescence spectra of pure mineral oils and dispersed in water are 
different, what allowds us to distinguish them by means of remote technique. The fluorescence spectra of oil 
pollutions are compared with that of dissolved organic matter of natural origin. The new technique for oil film 
thickness measurement is suggested. It uses contour analysis of water Raman spectrum distorted in shape due to 
dispersion of attenuation index of mineral oil. Oil film thickness calculated in this way is independent of laser power 
output, altitude of fluorosensor and other experimental conditions which can not be controlled. This is a Very 
important advantage of this technique comparatively with others. The possibilities and limitations of the proposed 
technique for oil film thickness measurement are considered. 
1. INTRODUCTION result of oil type classification from fluorescence spectra. 
Fluorescent experimental studies described in scientific 
The most wide-spread organic pollutions in ocean water literature earlier have been carried out only for mineral 
are represented by crude and refined mineral oils. The oils as pure substances, but not for oil dispersed in water 
actual problem of environmental control demands the body. 
elaboration of express and highly sensitive techniques 
for oil pollutions monitoring. Recently, several lidar During the application of fluorescent techniques for oil 
systems using fluorescent techniques have been spill diagnostics investigators have faced also serious 
developed for remote detection of oil spills difficulty caused by similarity of emission fluorescence 
(Hengstermann and Reuter, 1990; Cecchi et al., 1992, spectra for crude oils and dissolved organic matter of 
Pantani et al, 1992). natural origin (Patsayeva, 1995b). This effect is more 
important for thin oil films of micrometer thickness. 
If an oil spill is spread on water surface the laser 
fluorosensor detects a fluorescence band caused by oil To solve the problems mentioned above the fluorescent 
pollution, and a suppression of intensity of water Raman spectroscopic study of different types of mineral oil 
scattering by an oil film. The careful spectral analysis of (gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel, engine oil, several 
the fluorescence spectral shape for an oil spill, and its crude oils) as well as their mixtures with water was 
comparison with spectra of classified oils permit to carried out in this work. For comparison fluorescence 
recognize the type of mineral oil spread on water surface spectra of water samples containing dissolved organic 
(Hengstermann and Reuter, 1990, 1992). The thickness matter of natural origin were detected. 
of oil film, and consequently the total oil volume 
estimate, can be calculated from airborne data using the 
information about water Raman suppression by an oil 2. FLUORESCENCE SPECTRA OF OIL 
film (Kung, Itzkan, 1976; Hoge, Swift, 1980; POLLUTIONS 
Hengstermann, Reuter, 1990). ; 
The measurement of emission and excitation 
The case when oil spill is mixed with sea water is more fluorescence spectra of mineral oils and water samples 
difficult for remote analysis because of interference of was performed using, luminescence spectrometer "Jobin 
two fluorescence signals - from oil film on water surface, Yvon 3CS". The excitation wavelength was altered from 
and oil pollution dispersed in the water body. The 222 to 532 nm, and corresponded with one of laser 
presence of oil in dispersed form may influence the sources. 
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International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXI, Part B7. Vienna 1996 
  
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