The use of remote sensing technology to delineate hydrocarbon contamination in the Arctic

M.K. Blade, H.D. Ziervogel

In the proceedings of: GEO2010 Calgary: 63rd Canadian Geotechnical Conference & 6th Canadian Permafrost Conference

Session: M3-E

ABSTRACT: Biodegradation of organic contaminants, typically diesel, in Arctic regions causes biogeochemical changes in ground and surface water, resulting in increased dissolved constituents and favourable environments for microbial mat growth. These areas are often dominated by Oscillatoria sp. and Phormidium sp., along with mosses and cotton grass, Eriophorum callitrix, at groundwater and surface water interfaces. Multispectral satellite imagery is used to map contamination by locating the reflectivity and absorption spectra of diesel and associated plant species and plotting the corresponding spatial distributions. Resulting maps are used for non-intrusive identification and prioritization of contaminated sites in remote and/or sensitive environments, such as those containing permafrost in the Arctic.

RÉSUMÉ: Dans des régions arctiques, la biodégradation de polluants organiques (typiquement le diesel) produisent des changements biogéochimiques affectant l'eau de surface et la nappe phréatique. L'augmentation de la teneur en substances dissoutes contribue à la communauté d'une natte microbienne qui est souvent dominée par Oscillateria sp. and Phormidium sp., avec des mousses et la linaigrette à belle crinière (Eriophorum callitrix), aux lieux où l'eau de surface et la nappe phréatique s'interfacent.

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