On behalf of the Russian state, the Russian satellite center ScanEx has conducted environmental monitoring of the Baltic Sea, Black Sea, White Sea, Caspian Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk, the company writes on its web site.
According to analyzes of more than 50 satellite images taken in the period from May 21, there are no traces of pollution in the White Sea.
The areas that are most polluted by oil spills are the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea. The satellite images show a high level of pollution along shipping routes in the Baltic Sea. This came as a surprise to the analysts, since this area is under strong monitoring and violations of environmental regulations are being prosecuted.
It is normal to believe that the main contribution to pollution of seas comes from oil spills in connection with larger accidents, while in fact only 10-15 percent of the pollution is a result of accidents at sea. The main sources to pollution in areas like the Baltic Sea are river flows, factories and spill water from vessels.
