Satellite imagery and how it helps in disaster response to Manila Bay oil spill

The oil spill from the sunken MT Terranova off Limay, Bataan, in the past month has reached Manila Bay, leaking thousands of liters of fuel into the harbor.

One of the instrumental technologies that's helping in the disaster response to the vast oil spill is satellite imagery. According to "Kuya Kim Ano Na?" on "24 Oras," Tuesday, satellite imagery or satellite images have been a huge help in determining how much the oil spill has spread and how to control it.

Satellite imagery are images of the planet taken by satellites in outer space. These satellites have sensors that can detect visible light, infrared light, microwave radiation, and more to create high resolution images.

"'Yung mga satellite images natin, sila ay mga produkto ng isang teknolohiya na tinatawag natin na remote sensing. Kumukuha ka ng impormasyon mula sa malayo," said Engr. Noel Borlongan, senior science research specialist at the Philippine Space Agency's (PhilSA) Data Mobilization and Applications Division.

Aside from informing the government and the public when it comes to disaster response, satellite images also help in forecasting the weather and agriculture. Currently, government agencies are relying on satellite images to conduct the clean-up operations of the oil spill in Manila Bay.

To get satellite data, the country relies on Philippine-made satellites Diwata-2 and NovaSAR-1, as well as satellites and space agencies from other countries, per the report.

"Yung mga mapa na nagagawa namin ay pinapamigay namin sa iba't ibang mga ahensya, in particular 'yung Philippine Coast Guard, para 'yung mga ginagawa nila on the ground ay masupplement ng mga data na nakukuha natin from the satellite," Borlongan said.

"Nagbibigay din kami sa UP Marine Science Institute, gumagawa sila ng mga model or ng mga parang forecast kung saan pwedeng mapunta 'yung oil using 'yung mga data na nakukuha nila mula sa amin. Nagagamit 'yung mga satellite images para mapabilis 'yung pag cleanup natin ng oil sa Manila Bay," he added.

The MT Terranova, en route to Iloilo, was carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil when it capsized in the eastern part of the Bataan peninsula on July 25.

The oil spill from the sunken tanker has also affected coastal barangays in Cavite. Fish collected from some areas in Region 3, CALABARZON, and the National Capital Region were also deemed not fit for human consumption by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources due to the oil spill.

— CDC, GMA Integrated News