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Two extensive spots in the Azov Sea
Author:Mariusz Dasiewicz
In the Azov Sea, satellites registered two extensive stains of possibly petroleum-derived substances. The larger one, with an area of about 4.7 km2, begins with an anchored ship visible in the photo. Where does the pollution come from, and is it related to damaged units in these waters?
In the article
The photo was taken by a radar satellite Sentinel-1C on July 26 at 17.19 Moscow time. The analysis experts of the Transparent World project estimated the area of the larger spot to be around 4.7 km2, while the second one, located further south, occupies approximately 1.84 km2 and may be a residue of earlier pollution.
The biggest spot begins with the anchored ship
The satellite image shows an anchored ship from which stretch wide spot which may indicate presence of petroleum-derived substances. However, the name of the vessel or its flag has not been given, so it is not possible to determine whether the stain in the photo was caused by a leak from the vessel. The radar image also does not allow to determine the type of substance or quantity that went into the sea.
The Ukrainian media also suggested that the Akhtar Limans are used as a temporary stop for ships carrying Russian oil and bypassing Western sanctions. However, no evidence has been provided to link the ship seen in the photo to the Russian so-called ‘a fleet of shadows"or confirm that it was previously damaged.
The time and location of the spot detection are paying attention, as Ukraine significantly intensified attacks on Russian shipping, ports and fuel installations in the Azov Sea in July. According to Ukrainian declarations dozens of ships were hit, including tankers and bulk carriers, although the full scale of damage was not independently confirmed. Russia introduced restrictions on ship traffic at the time, and some cargo was diverted to other ports.
However, this does not mean that the latest pollution is the direct result of Ukrainian impact. In order to confirm such a relationship, it is necessary to establish the condition of the ship, to check whether the unit was previously the target of the Ukrainian attack, and to examine samples taken from the sea.
It's another pollution in a dozen days.
The latest picture does not show the first such case in this part of the Azov Sea. In mid-July near Primorsko-Achtarsk, a spot of approximately 0.65 km2 and smaller pollution clusters covering a total of approximately 0.39 km2 was detected. Some of the substance then reached shore, and local authorities confirmed pollution about a kilometer of coast and closed one of the beaches.
Greenpeace, based on photos taken by Planet Labs satellite, had previously estimated that by 14 July the surface different spots It could have been about 100 km2 visible in the Azov Sea. However, these data relate to several locations and different time limits and should not be added to the surface of the latest pollution. The stains move under the influence of wind and currents, break down into smaller fragments, and some of the substance settles on the shore or mixes with water.
The shallow sea increases the risk
The Azov Sea is shallow and warms rapidly in the summer, so even a relatively small leak can affect a large part of the local environment. Substance layer petroleum derivatives reduces the exchange of oxygen between water and atmosphere, contaminates coastal reed sites and poses a risk to fish and aquatic birds.
It is also important to detect these stains. The Liman Akhtarski complex has the status of a regional protected area in the Krasnodarski Country and covers more than 54,000 hectares of water, reeds and wet coastal areas. The spread of pollution to the shore can therefore have effects beyond shipping alone.
At the time of preparation of the material, no information shall be provided on the sampling of the two most recent stains or on the initiation of measures to limit their spread. The satellite image confirms extensive changes on the surface of the sea, but does not yet allow to determine the type of substance, its volume or its exact source.
