REPORT DATE: 07-23-2019
REPORT TIME: 1950 UTC
REGION: GULF OF MEXICO
SUB REGION: N/A
AREA/BLOCK: MISSISSIPPI CANYON    20
IMAGE DATE: 07-23-2019
IMAGE TIME: 0001 UTC
DATA SOURCE: SENTINEL1A 
MODE: Interferometric Wide (IW) VV
RESOLUTION: 20 meter
LOCATION: 28°56'16" N/88°58'14" W
AREA: 6.14 square kilometers (Updated 05/26/2020)
CONFIDENCE: High
REMARKS: Possible oil was observed in satellite imagery. This anomaly is unconfirmed as oil. The anomaly appeared to emanate from the destroyed Taylor platform, a known repeat leak source, and was approximately 11.2 nmi in length and up to 0.47 nmi in width in two distinct parts. It widened appreciably with distance from the suspected source, displayed sharp edges, and was distinct from its background. SAR-derived winds and nearby surface wind observations at the time of the image were around 5 kts from the WSW, which aligned with the orientation of the anomaly.


UNCERTAINTIES: A false positive just to the north of the image was unrelated to the anomaly. Otherwise, given the repeat leak nature of the suspected source, there are no uncertainties.

ANALYST: CLARK
Maps and shapefiles can be accessed at: www.ospo.noaa.gov/Products/ocean/marinepollution/

ERMA: https://erma.noaa.gov/gulfofmexico/erma.html#/layers=1+47014&x=-88.8918195&y=28.985582&z=11&panel=layer

For further information on oil spill response and assessment go to: https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/oil-and-chemical-spills/oil-spills


If you would like to share any feedback about this report or have questions, please contact the operational analyst at (301) 683-1403 or send to oceanmap@noaa.gov. Email alerts are available only for federal and state government officials involved in response efforts. Requests to be added to the email alerts should also be sent to oceanmap@noaa.gov. Please allow up to 2 business days to process the request.