Investigation of ballast water conditions using remote sensing. Suspended Particulate Matter Characterization in Emden Sea Port

Abstract

This thesis investigates the use of remote sensing techniques to study the conditions of ballast water in the northwestern port of Emden, Germany. Sentinel-2 data of the seaport has been collected and used in order to retrieve the suspended particulate matter (SPM), evaluating its distribution and checking for any time or spatial periodicity over the past 5 years. The aim of the study is to provide insights into the variability of ballast water conditions and identify potential areas of concern when loading the tanks of their ships, avoiding the spread of invasive aquatic species into new bioregions. Overall, this research highlights the potential of remote sensing techniques as an alternative to ground infrastructure in monitoring and managing ballast water conditions in ports and other aquatic environments.