CTD cast data from the Gulf of Mexico captures water column conditions in the immediate aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon disaster. The Subsurface Monitoring Unit collected profiles of eight parameters, including CDOM fluorescence and dissolved oxygen, over a nine-day period in September 2010. NOAA's National Coastal Data Development Center performed quality assurance on these records.
Use Cases
- Modeling oil plume dispersion by correlating CDOM fluorescence with salinity and temperature profiles.
- Assessing hypoxia risk from the spill by analyzing dissolved oxygen levels against water density and pressure.
- Calibrating regional ocean models using concurrent measurements of conductivity, temperature, and sound velocity.
- Tracking subsurface water mass movement post-spill through spatial analysis of salinity and density data.
Strengths
- Data collected during a critical 9-day window (2010-09 05 to 13) following a major environmental event.
- Includes eight validated physical and chemical parameters per profile, such as CDOM fluorescence and dissolved oxygen.
- Underwent quality assurance procedures by the National Coastal Data Development Center.
Limitations
- Temporal coverage is limited to a single, short cruise, preventing long-term trend analysis.
- Spatial coverage is confined to the specific cruise track of the RV Wes Bordelon in the Gulf of Mexico.
- The dataset's age (2010) means it represents only immediate post-spill conditions, not long-term recovery.
Provenance
- Source
- Subsurface Monitoring Unit (SMU), collected for NOAA NCEI (Accession 0069085).
- Collection Method
- In-situ measurements from CTD casts, fluorometer, and oxygen meter aboard the RV Wes Bordelon.
- Time Range
- 2010-09-05 to 2010-09-13
- Freshness
- null
- Geography
- Gulf of Mexico, specific cruise track of the RV Wes Bordelon.