Fouling or oiling: This occurs when oil harms a plant or animal physically, such as when oil coats a bird’s wings so they are unable to fly, or strip away the insulating properties of a sea otter’s fur. The degree of oiling often impacts the chance of survival for the animal.

Spill control

“The detection of oil spills on the West African coast is of great importance in the fight against marine pollution, especially in a context where the exploitation of oil will develop with new discoveries of deposits in certain countries and also with the densification of maritime traffic.”

Oil slicks can occur naturally but most spills, and certainly large spills (over 700 tons), are due to human activities, such as oil extraction processes and shipping. Although data shows that the number of large oil spills have significantly reduced since the 70s, dropping from over 20 down to under 2 on average per year, smaller oils spills continue at an alarming rate and many go unreported due to their remote location.

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The impact of an oil spill can vary greatly and usually depends on the physical and biological properties of the location. Generally though, oil spills are detrimental in two main ways:

New video summarises research at Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) that is helping to detect oil spills across the global ocean using satellite technology.

The global demand for crude oil continues to increase and in 2023, this demand amounted to over 100 million barrels per day, which is an increase of 11 million barrels per day since 2003.

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“The technical support provided by the Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML), under EO4SD-Marine &Coastal Resource Management, in the use of satellite images for this purpose, is capitalized through capacity building sessions for the network of experts in the sub-region. The forthcoming establishment of the regional observatory and national observatories will, in the medium and long term, make it possible to tackle the issue in a sustainable manner at the local level. Provision of marine pollution indicators can thus be retained in the monitoring program of the regional observatory.”

“The information produced will be made available at the level of the regional observatory platform and will also be capitalized upon in the regional alert network.”

Beyond the impact of this fossil fuel on the Earth’s climate, other risks associated with the demand for oil are also increasing. One such risk is oil spills, with 1000s of spills occurring globally each year, totaling an approximate 700 million gallons of oil entering our ocean annually.

Historically lights had to be functionally round, however, we now have the freedom to express, innovate and incorporate, so why fight it? Modern vehicles no longer possess anything circular on their façade. We have harnessed the same philosophy that modern automotive designers possess, creating the pathway for evolution to follow. The TYPE-X™ EVO started from a simple sketch, where finally a silhouette was chosen as the basis of which we built the entire design upon. The journey was not a quick one, taking years of feedback from our customers, without you even knowing about it. If you look closely at TYPE-X™ EVO’s silhouette and bezel depth, you will draw some familiarity with modern age vehicle grilles. The metallic edge and smooth angular transitions form the very basis of our design, harmoniously accentuating the curves and angles that we all have become accustomed to and expect from today’s automotive design. Taking a step into the future doesn’t mean you can’t write a little history along the way.If you want to know what the future of driving lights looks like, you’re looking at it. This is where finely-honed bespoke craftmanship and next-generation design meet. Minimalism and purity work in harmony creating curves that complement the future of automotive. TYPE-X™ EVO’s daring attitude and timeless design embodies a vision to tomorrow, pushing the boundaries of what we thought was possible. Upon first inspection, the silhouette and metallic bezel will catch your eye, however, delve a little deeper and other elements will start to present themselves. The 3D primary lens will catch the most unwitting off-guard; one step into the sunshine and you will instantly recognise and understand why. Much like the modern car door, we have incorporated a 3D design to purposely reflect the glow of the sky with the upward facing portion of the lens, as well as catching the shadows and depths of the terrain in which you are driving with the lower portion. Even the smallest of angle change creates visual magic. The magic doesn’t stop there. The iconic black covers have also received a next-generation improvement with tactility in mind. Much like the 3D primary lens, the black cover also draws shadow inspiration albeit with a sharper noticeable edge creating light symphony on its piano black appearance. Upon further inspection, you’ll also observe the STEDI™ logo has been embossed onto the cover, keeping the multi-dimensional theme consistent throughout.TYPE-X™ EVO has arrived in a separate dedicated flood and spot beam pattern, meaning you can mix and match, and have full control of your desired beam to suit your driving style and needs. Utilising a more efficient technology from CREE’s XP range of LED’s, TYPE-X™ EVO offers up to a staggering 1470m of light throw down the road, and up to a 140m of light spread laterally into the critical zones.You may be asking yourself, flood or spot?If your style is long range straight open roads, a pair of TYPE-X™ EVO spots may be the most suited, throwing light beam down the road nearly as far as the eye can see. Although a pair of spot beams will allow 1470m of light throw, not everyone wants to tunnel down the lines of the great open road. The TYPE-X™ EVO flood beam offers a tremendously wide angle flat lateral beam, positioned perfectly across the horizon. The key to its design is in the peak intensity ranged in the critical zone. What is the critical zone, you ask? The critical zone is the optimal distance that you require for safely stopping from 100km/h to avoid any animal strike. You typically want at least 200-300m of perfectly placed light in front of you, and with over 475m of elongated horizontal light from a single TYPE-X™ EVO flood, you will feel safe in all situations. Couple that with a TYPE-X™ EVO spot, and you have a match made in heaven. Promising an even more intense beam pattern, the Type-X EVO™ is the thrilling evolution of the STEDI™ legacy. You too, may find yourself contemplating the long way home.With more light, comes more features. TYPE-X™ EVO accommodates 44 LEDs that reside in a 3D lens, as well as an updated heat sync technology, dissipating heat more effectively. A multi bezel design allows for a sealing structure like no other, implementing a hidden structural seal overlayed with a perfectly proportioned outer bezel, adding depth and shadow. We have also introduced a new level of sustainability, with a bespoke packaging design that would rival the most expensive luggage brands on the market. Each spotlight is individually packaged in a water-resistant hard case with STEDI™ filigree surrounding its every side, as well as a mesh pocket and securing strap inside, which adds next-level functionality and repurposing. Much like the TYPE-X™ PRO, a wide range of coloured rings return, only this time in a brushed metallic finish. Oh, did we mention tool-less customisation? That’s right, no allen key will be necessary to change over to your desired colour ring.Following on from TYPE-X™ PRO’s design success, a gusseted cast aluminium bracket has returned albeit with a modern touch of understated class. Slotted holes in the base provide a minimum 18mm of clearance to your grill, allowing fitments to the shallowest of bullbars. The stability of a 3-bolt design has been retained for maximum purchase on the roughest of corrugations. The silhouette has been carefully crafted, not only for looks, however, for maximum punch in a perfectly sized package that minimises height over alternative options on the market.  We have generously offered more LEDs than TYPE-X™ PRO into a housing that rivals lights that only a 7” housing would normally be required in. This opens up class leading performance to a myriad of new situations where a smaller light would have been required. You can now have your cake and eat it too.

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To us, evolution means more than just gradual improvement or progression, it is about the whole process; substantial refinement in the pursuit of excellence. After 3 years of design, hundreds of prototypes, and thousands of iterations, with one eye on the future, we have set our sights beyond typical shapes with the creation of TYPE-X™ EVO, redefining auxiliary driving lights as we know them.

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PML is a charity, undertaking innovative, cutting-edge marine research, allowing society to benefit from clean, productive, biologically diverse seas, now and for future generations.

Spill crew

The PML team also contributed to a multi-country policy report on state of the coast for West Africa, with a focus on oil spills. Dr Moussa Sall, who worked with PML on this policy report and other oil spill detection research, as part of his role as the Coordinator of the regional unit of the West African Coast Observation Mission, said:

“All this will contribute to improving knowledge on coastal risks and help in decision-making in the management of the West African marine and coastal area”.

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Along with their environmental impact, oil spills that reach the coastal zone can often affect human health and the economies of surrounding communities. Tourism, fishing and aquaculture are all especially vulnerable to the potentially devastating impacts of oil spills.

Both of these impacts can also cause long-term harm at wider scales by changing food webs and altering species populations for years to come. Sensitive habitats, such as mangroves, coral reefs and seagrass meadows, and the vital services they provide in coastal protection and refuge, are also at high risk and could take decades to fully recover.

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“We are pleased to provide the high-resolution, high-cadence SAR imagery the experts at PML need to develop advanced analytic tools for oil slick detection. Capella Space has long been dedicated to providing actionable information to better understand our changing world and quickly respond to change. We look forward to continuing our work with organizations like PML to tackle some of the biggest environmental challenges of our day”.

In summary, oil spills have severe impacts on ecosystems, wildlife and economies. Satellite monitoring, such as PML’s oil spill detection service, plays a crucial role in detecting and monitoring oil spills to help support clean-up efforts. These technologies and methods are essential for preventing and mitigating the devastating effects of oil spills, helping to ensure a cleaner ocean for now and the generations to come.

Oil toxicity: Oil consists many different toxic compounds that when ingested, can cause severe health problems, such as heart damage, stunted growth, immune system effects, and even death.

Overall the consequences of oil spills are multifaceted, making them a grave problem that demands immediate attention and comprehensive solutions. However, due to the vastness and dynamic nature of the ocean, monitoring for oil spills has been challenging, if not near impossible, especially in regions that lack the resources to undertake appropriate monitoring.

In good news, rapidly advancing technologies are paving the way for better, faster, more cost-effective and user-friendly monitoring approaches. Plymouth Marine Laboratory has taken full advantage of these new technologies and fostered an impressive track record in the development of satellite monitoring and advanced techniques to help detect and address oil spill occurrence across the world, which include:

If you want to know what the future of driving lights looks like, you’re looking at it. This is where finely-honed bespoke craftmanship and next-generation design meet. Minimalism and purity work in harmony creating curves that complement the future of automotive. TYPE-X™ EVO’s daring attitude and timeless design embodies a vision to tomorrow, pushing the boundaries of what we thought was possible. Taking a step into the future doesn’t mean you can’t write a little history along the way.

TYPE-X™ EVO has arrived in a separate dedicated flood and spot beam pattern, meaning you can mix and match, and have full control of your desired beam to suit your driving. Utilising a more efficient technology from CREE’s XP range of LEDs, TYPE-X™ EVO offers up to a staggering 1470m of light throw down the road, and up to a 140m of light spread laterally into the critical zones. Promising an even more intense beam pattern, the TYPE-X™ EVO is the thrilling evolution of the STEDI legacy.