Sediment cores from the northern Gulf of Mexico provide bulk density, pore water percentage, and detailed texture and composition measurements. Data were collected during two R/V Weatherbird II research cruises in August 2012 and August 2013 by NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information. Sub-samples were analyzed at high-resolution intervals of 2mm for surficial layers and 5mm downcore.
Use Cases
- Model sediment compaction and porosity using bulk density (g/cm3) and percent pore water measurements from core sub-samples.
- Classify seafloor sediment types by analyzing the percent gravel, sand, silt, and clay texture data.
- Estimate biogenic versus terrigenous sediment sources by correlating percent total organic matter (TOM) and percent carbonate content with insoluble residue (IR) data.
- Calculate mud content for environmental assessments by combining the provided percent silt and percent clay values.
Strengths
- High-resolution sampling at 2mm intervals for surficial sediment units and 5mm intervals downcore.
- Provides multiple complementary sediment properties: physical density, pore water, texture, and organic/inorganic composition.
- Data originates from two dedicated NOAA research cruises with precise temporal (August 2012 and August 2013) and spatial (northern Gulf of Mexico) documentation.
Limitations
- Sample size and total row count are unspecified, limiting statistical power assessments.
- Temporal coverage is limited to two discrete points in time (August 2012 and August 2013), not a continuous time series.
- Geographic scope is confined to the specific cruise tracks in the northern Gulf of Mexico, which may not be representative of the entire region.
Provenance
- Source
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI Accession 0225545).
- Collection Method
- Laboratory analysis of sediment core sub-samples collected aboard the R/V Weatherbird II during cruises WB-0812 and WB-0813.
- Time Range
- 2012-08-14 to 2013-08-21
- Freshness
- null
- Geography
- Northern Gulf of Mexico.