Hydrocarbon Sensor Data from Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Response

Chemical oceanographic data were collected aboard the RYAN CHOUEST in the Gulf of Mexico from July 1-9, 2010, in direct response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The dataset includes measurements of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) and fluorescence, gathered by a multi-agency Subsurface Monitoring Unit using instruments like fluorometers and gas chromatographs. It contains raw sensor data and derived products like maps and charts used for real-time analysis.

Use Cases

• Mapping subsurface hydrocarbon plumes using fluorescence and TPH measurements.
• Analyzing the chemical fingerprint of spilled oil via gas chromatograph data.
• Assessing spatial extent of contamination in the Gulf of Mexico using geospatial products.
• Supporting real-time decision-making during spill response with charts and maps.
• Studying benzene, ethylbenzene, and BTEX compounds from the spill event.

Strengths

• Data collected during a critical 9-day period (2010-07-01 to 2010-07-09) immediately following a major environmental event.
• Includes measurements from specialized instruments like fluorometers and gas chromatographs.
• Contains both raw sensor data and processed decision-support products (charts, graphs, maps).
• Managed and published by authoritative organizations (NOAA NCEI, SMU).

Limitations

• Key structural details like row count, column names, and file size are unknown across all sources.
• Data is described as raw and provisional, indicating it may not be fully quality-controlled.
• Conflicting last-updated dates exist between platforms (2010-07 09 vs. 2026-04-01).

Provenance

Source

Subsurface Monitoring Unit (SMU), consisting of multiple government and corporate agencies, collected aboard the RYAN CHOUEST.

Collection Method

Instruments including fluorometer and gas chromatograph along with physical sampling devices.

Time Range

2010-07-01 to 2010-07-09

Freshness

2026-04-01 15:12:08.146066

Geography

Gulf of Mexico