The main objective is to serve the end users with information on possible oil spills within two hours after satellite overpasses. Today's service is a first step towards a fully operational system covering Norwegian and adjacent waters. The operational service will use both satellite and aircraft data in combination with other observations. Full size ERS-1 SAR image of an oil field in the North Sea acquired in July 1994.
Bright spots represent rigs and ships, dark features possible oil slicks or other deposits.
National Service Operations Utilisation of ERS SAR data is implemented in the national system for oil and chemical pollution reporting in Norway. The service operations at TSS include a near real-time analysis of ERS SAR data from Norwegian waters, and information directly to SFT on possible oil spills within two hours after satellite overpasses. The primary service area has been defined by SFT, which is responsible for observation verifications. In 1995, the SFT surveillance aircraft operations are co-ordinated according to the ERS overpasses. TSS informs SFT and the surveillance aircraft crew about the planned satellite acquisition schedules, and receives the flight plan in return.