Natural Oil Slicks in the Southeastern Black Sea

In this chapter we discuss applications of satellite remote sensing for revealing and analyzing of spatial and temporal characteristics of sea surface oil slicks caused by hydrocarbon seeps on the seabed. Hydrocarbon seeps are natural leaks of liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons fed by underground deposits of oil and gas. Faults or fractures in the seabed serve as pathways through which gas bubbles coated with oil are released into the water column. The primary interest in the study of these phenomena is due to the probable existent link between the natural showings of hydrocarbons from the seabed and the presence of oil and gas fields in the area. On the other hand, the natural manifestations of hydrocarbons are permanent sources of pollution, which should be taken into account when assessing the ecological state of the aquatic areas and when studying the synoptic and climatic changes in the ocean.