Passive remote sensing of solar-induced fluorescence spectra of crude oil

The solar-induced fluorescence (SIF) of a simulated oil slick is remotely retrieved from the infilling of the solar Fraunhofer lines of its radiance spectrum acquired by means of a sub-nanometric spectral resolution fluorescence lidar operated in passive mode (i.e. as a spectroradiometer). SIF data, retrieved from the infilling of several Fraunhofer lines selected in the 390-660 nm range, were exploited to reconstruct the oil fluorescence spectrum. This spectrum was finally compared with laser-induced fluorescence spectra acquired on the same oil slick by using the fluorescence lidar. The results open new prospects for the remote sensing of oils and their classification.