Sentinel Data for Monitoring of Pollutant Emissions by Maritime Transport - A Literature Review

Abstract

This research discusses the application of Sentinel satellite data for monitoring air pollution in port areas. The Scopus and Web of Science databases were comprehensively analysed to identify relevant peer-reviewed literature and assess research publications. The systematic literature review was conducted using the PRISMA methodology for inclusion and exclusion criteria. A total of 519 articles were identified from which 70 relevant articles were finally selected and discussed in detail for their relevancy to the maritime environment. Sentinel-5P was found to have several use cases in the literature that are useful for measuring maritime air pollution, while Sentinel 1 and 2 were mainly used for other applications like oil spills and water quality, respectively. Although aerial surveys, like those conducted using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), offer more precise estimates of greenhouse gases (GHGs), they are only useful for certain applications because the technology is costly and impractical for daily monitoring. Satellite-based sensors are the state of the art for obtaining remote observations of emissions in open sea. Sentinel-5P measurements offer daily data for air quality monitoring, which supports ground surveys to identify and penalize major emission sources and consequently support environmental management in accordance with contemporary policies. Pollutant concentration levels for the maritime sector can be analysed both spatially and temporally using Sentinel-5P data. In the future, addressing the limitations of the Sentinel-5P data, such as underestimation and source separation, could improve air pollution assessments.