Sustainable Shipping in the Arctic – Assessment of environmental effects of oil spill supported by satellite remote sensing

Research Project, 2013 – 2014

The project aims to develop a risk analysis model for oil spills in the Arctic Ocean with special focus on the Northern Sea Route. A reduced sea ice extent in the Arctic Ocean opens up for new shipping routes and more ships and hence an increased risk for oil spills along these routes. We aim to answer the questions; How will the oil spread/drift? What would the concentration of oil be in the water? How does it affect the surrounding environment?

The project consists of a number of subprojects; remote sensing, ecotoxicology and the development of the risk analysis model. Remote sensing data of various types is used to estimate the faith of the oil. This is done by utilising measurements of the sea ice concentration, extent and thickness as well as ocean surface currents and winds.  Ecotoxicological data is used to estimate the oils influence on the environment. The remote sensing and ecotoxicological data will be used as input data into the risk analysis model, where the latter will estimate how an oil spill would affect the environment and rank these effects.