The possibilities of remote sensing techniques in the field of the Earth surface monitoring and protection specifically for the problems caused by petroleum contaminations, for the mapping of insufficiently plugged and abandoned old oil wells and for the analysis of onshore oil seeps are described. Explained is the methodology for analyzing and detection of potential hydrocarbon contaminations using the Earth observation in the area of interest in Slovakia (Korňa) and in Czech Republic (Nesyt), mainly building and calibrating the spectral library for oil seeps. The acquisition of the in-situ field data (ASD, Cropscan spectroradiometers) for this purpose, the successful building and verification of hydrocarbon spectral library, the application of hydrocarbon indexes and use of shift in red-edge part of electromagnetic spectra, the spectral analysis of input data are clarified in the paper. Described is approach which could innovate the routine methods for investigating the occurrence of hydrocarbons and can assist during the mapping and locating the potential oil seep sites. Important outcome is the successful establishment of a spectral library (database with calibration data) suitable for further application in data classification for identifying the occurrence of hydrocarbons.

Soil contamination with petroleum hydrocarbons is a serious problem. In the soil in the location of highways, fuel pumping station and airfields high pollutant concentrations are found. The contents of total hydrocarbons (THC) and 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analysed in the surface (0-20 cm) soil samples from airfields in Dęblin Marked differences in the pollution level of the above areas were noted. The PAH contents ranged from 113 to 5638 μg/kg and THC contents range from 40 to 430 mg/kg. The analysis was carried out by reverse phase HPLC (PAHs) and SOXTEC apparatus according to Polish norm PN-86/C-04573/01.

The objective of the research presented in the paper was to study the process of adsorption of oil impurities with the use of clinoptylolite and diatomite. The effect of various factors on process course was determined, the process was described with isotherms and the adsorptive capacities of tested minerals were determined on their basis.