Main terms and chronology of marine oil spill in the last 20 years

This article presents readers with a set of concepts and definitions related to marine pollution produced by oil spills at sea. The types of existing emergencies identified by the main regional and global organizations dealing with the issue are mentioned. The main accidents that have occurred around the world in the last 20 years are reviewed, as well as the general damages they caused and the vulnerabilities that made them more complex. Additionally, a summary is made of the main physical phenomena present in the spill and the response techniques to mitigate the pollution impact on the environment.