Mapping oil pollution in the Gulf of Suez in 2017–2021 using Synthetic Aperture Radar

Abstract

The Gulf of Suez region accommodates diverse activities, including oil exploration and production, recreational activities, and export and import ports. The Gulf region is exposed to pollution risks due to these interactions, with few research studies documenting these pollution cases. This research aimed to use Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite data to detect and map all the oil pollution incidents within the geographical extent of the Gulf of Suez that occurred from 2017 to 2021, locating the most affected regions and possible sources of pollution. It enabled the detection and mapping of nearly 150 oil spill incidents that occurred over 67 dates during the study period and covered 851 km² of the sea surface. The year 2018 recorded the greatest pollution area over the study period, with 201 km². Along the Gulf coast, Suez, Ain Sokhna, and Ras Ghareb cities recorded the highest number of marine pollution incidents. The research also located seven sources of pollution that frequently discharge into the Gulf water without regulations. This research recommends implementing a real-time monitoring system for oil pollution to robustly detect any future oil incidents in these high-risk areas as quickly as possible and minimize their environmental impact.