Work

Satellite-based analysis of maritime traffic effects on water quality indicators in the Mediterranean basin

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This study investigates the impact of maritime traffic intensity on water quality indicators in the Mediterranean Sea during the post-pandemic period (2022–2024). We examined the relationships between the monthly vessel route density from EMODnet and satellite-derived indicators, including chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), suspended particulate matter (SPM), absorption by gelbstoff and detrital material (ADG), NO₂ and SO₂ (Sentinel-5P), as well as in-situ heavy-metal concentrations. Pearson correlations were computed across pixel, EEZ-IHO regional and basin-wide scales, and annual growth rates were estimated for traffic and environmental variables. To assess whether water-quality responses differ across traffic-intensity levels, we applied the Kruskal‒Wallis test. The results show a strong positive temporal correlation between traffic intensity and NO₂ (r = 0.83, p < 0.001), whereas Chl-a (r = −0.86, p < 0.001), SPM and SO₂ display predominantly negative relationships. Passengers and fishing vessels exert the strongest effects, whereas cargo and tanker show weaker links. The Kruskal‒Wallis test confirms that Chl-a and ADG distributions differ significantly across low-, medium-, and high-traffic areas. Among the heavy metals, Pb displays the most consistent positive spatial correlations. AGR analysis shows that declining traffic along major corridors coincides with reduced NO₂, whereas growth in the Adriatic corresponds to increased Chl-a and SPM.

Source: European Journal of Remote Sensing

DOI: 10.1080/22797254.2026.2650343