Seatrack Web: A numerical tool for environmental risk assessment in the Baltic Sea

Abstract

In the framework of several projects related to organization of the complex satellite monitoring of the Lukoil D-6 oil platform in the southeastern Baltic Sea and a construction of the Nord Stream gas pipeline in the whole Baltic Sea we elaborated a new, very effective technology for the quantitative environmental risk assessment, based on the Seatrack Web model. For every kilometer of the coastline, the Baltic Sea Protected Area, Important Bird Area, as well as for any part of the sea surface it allows to calculate in percent a probability to be polluted by oil, resulted from operations in ports, oil terminals, oil platforms, oil pipelines, and shipping activities (main ship routes) in the Baltic Sea. Three case studies are discussed in the chapter. This methodology can be used in the Baltic Sea countries and in the international organizations for the environmental risk assessment.