Detection of thermal anomalies signals and hotspots at oil wells and refineries using remote sensing satellite data and GIS techniques

• Emissions from oil wells and refineries are sources of air pollutants depending on their composition and amounts. The current study focuses on investigation and detecting of thermal anomalies and active hotspots in oil pipelines and refineries locations in Iraq, along with the spatial distribution of the ultraviolet aerosol (UV Aerosol) index. The goal is to assign the most polluted cities that can assist in evaluating the consequences of the air pollution on human and the environmental risk as well. We carried out the analysis of the products obtained from Terra/ MODIS data derived from channels 21 (4 µm) and 31 (11 µm), and the Sentinel-5P products/ Level 2 for the UV Aerosol index in the atmosphere, and found a number of active thermal signals in different geographic areas in Iraq, especially in southeastern and northeastern parts of the country, where the most of Iraq's petroleum resources are located there. The study shows a good correlation between the observed thermal anomalies and the UV emissions, and the results proved that the aerosol emission changes is significantly affected by emissions from oil wells and refineries. We also used fires reports obtained from the department of safety and fires in Basra to validate the outcomes and to investigate the final interpretation of the obtained results that were consist with the documented reports. As well as the results also shows a significant spatio-temporal variations in values of UV index among different parts of Iraq, and the larger amount of UV index has been seen in southern Iraq in Basra.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Samhällsbyggnadsteknik -- Geoteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Civil Engineering -- Geotechnical Engineering (hsv//eng)

Keyword

MODIS

remote sensing

Sentinel 5P

UV Aersol

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)