Quantitative evaluation of beach-stranded tar balls by means of air photographs

Abstract Relative quantities of beach stranded tar were determined by means of image processing techniques of air photographs which were taken on six different dates between 1975 and 1985 of a section of the Israeli coastline. The results show a drastic reduction in the tar quantity during this period. This reduction is attributed to reduction of marine oil transport during this period as a result of the 1979 oil crisis, to enforcement of regulations against oil pollution, and to systematic cleaning of the Israeli beaches.