Satellite monitoring of the Nord Stream gas pipeline construction in the Gulf of Finland

Abstract

This chapter explains the need for comprehensive satellite environmental monitoring of the Nord Stream gas pipeline construction in the Baltic Sea, including monitoring of oil pollution, the spread of suspended matter, algal bloom, and thermal effects at the sea surface. Examples of the different types of the observed contamination along the pipeline route long before the pipeline construction are shown. This chapter is focused on the results of oil pollution monitoring during the pipeline construction, and also shows the results concerning the satellite monitoring of ice cover, suspended matter, algal bloom, and thermal effects on the sea surface in the Gulf of Finland.