Impact assessment of oil spills on the Red Sea waters using remote sensing and numerical modeling

Understanding the impact of oil spills on marine environments requires a comprehensive evaluation of biophysical and optical properties. This study focuses on assessing and monitoring optical properties of Red Sea waters following the Iranian tanker oil spill on October 11, 2019. Utilizing Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data from the Terra, this work analyzed key optical parameters in the oil spill area, including the downwelling diffuse attenuation coefficient irradiance at 490 nm (Kd(490)), particulate organic carbon (POC), particulate inorganic carbon (PIC), and the backscattering coefficient. Our investigation incorporated modeling of oil spill trajectories using the General NOAA Operational Modeling Environment (GNOME), which tracked the spill's progression from their origin. Results show a significant change in Kd(490), POC, PIC levels and backscattering values following the oil spill. Furthermore, simulations of oil spill trajectories closely aligned with satellite observations, highlighting the role of wind speed and strong westward currents in dispersing the spill propagation. This study underscores the importance of real-time tracking of oil spills for assessing marine ecosystem response in Red Sea waters.