REMOTE-SENSING OF MARINE POLLUTION - A CHALLENGE FOR THE 1990S

A summary of advances in satellite and aircraft remote sensing of marine pollution is presented. Remote sensing offers large benefits because of the high costs of monitoring using only traditional methods. Nevertheless, much work is needed to refine the technology to address even basic marine pollution problems. This paper briefly outlines studies of water quality assessment, including photyplankton standing stock, turbidity, suspended sediment load, dissolved organic material, temperature, salinity, wind stress, wave direction and wavelength, current speed and direction, and light attenuation coefficients. An increasing number of techniques useful to monitor marine pollution will be available in the 1990s. As part of this effort, it is important that a solid scientific base for remote sensing methods be established, and that multidisciplinary, international training programs be developed. It is capable human resources that we currently lack the most.