Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Hydrocarbon Measurements from Gulf of Mexico

June 5-7, 2010 chemical oceanographic data collected aboard the RYAN CHOUEST in the Gulf of Mexico in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The dataset includes measurements of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) and fluorescence, gathered by the Subsurface Monitoring Unit using instruments like fluorometers and gas chromatographs. It also contains real-time analysis products such as charts, maps, and GIS files, along with cruise-level documentation.

Use Cases

• Analyze Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) concentrations to map the spatial extent of subsurface oil plumes.
• Correlate fluorescence measurements with TPH data to calibrate remote sensing or in-situ sensor algorithms.
• Use geospatial (GIS) data files and maps to model the trajectory and dilution of hydrocarbons over time.
• Integrate cruise-level physical sampling data with chemical measurements for a holistic impact assessment.

Strengths

• Data collected during a critical 3-day period immediately following a major environmental disaster.
• Includes multiple data types: raw sensor measurements, derived analysis products (charts, maps, GIS files), and supporting cruise documentation.

Limitations

• Temporal coverage is limited to a short 3-day window in June 2010.
• Data is described as raw and provisional, indicating it may not be fully quality-controlled or calibrated.
• Specific sample size, row count, and measurement resolution are unknown.

Provenance

Source

Subsurface Monitoring Unit (SMU), consisting of multiple government and corporate agencies, via NOAA NCEI.

Collection Method

Collected aboard the R/V RYAN CHOUEST using instruments including fluorometers and gas chromatographs.

Time Range

2010-06-05 to 2010-06-07

Freshness

null

Geography

Gulf of Mexico