Analysis of Oil and Oil-Impacted Soils for Remote Sensing Purposes

While conventional multispectral sensors record the radiometric signal only at a handful of wavelengths, hyperspectral sensors measure the reflected solar signal at hundreds contiguous and narrow wavelength bands, spanning from the visible to the infrared. Hyperspectral images provide ample spectral information to identify and distinguish between spectrally similar (but unique) materials, providing the ability to make proper distinctions among materials with only subtle signature differences. Hyperspectral images show hence potentiality for proper discrimination between oil slicks and other natural phenomena (look-alike); and even for proper distinctions between oil types. Additionally they can give indications on oil volume.