With the bottom of the projection of a white transparent container filled with water, then drip in the water the color ink or oil-based paint.

But NCAR scientist Synte Peacock - who helped create the video - told EarthSky that it wasn't depicting the movement of oil, but a color dye.

Oil slicks are notoriously difficult to spot in natural-color (photo-like) satellite imagery because a thin sheen of oil only slightly darkens the already dark blue background of the ocean.