Hydrocarbon Sensor Data from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Response

July 14-19, 2010 chemical oceanographic data were collected aboard the R/V RYAN CHOUEST in the Gulf of Mexico in response to the Deepwater Horizon spill. The dataset includes Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) and fluorescence measurements from instruments like fluorometers and gas chromatographs. It also contains real-time analysis products such as charts, maps, and GIS files, alongside cruise documentation.

Use Cases

• Tracking subsurface oil plume dispersion based on Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) measurements.
• Calibrating hydrocarbon detection models using fluorescence data from fluorometers.
• Creating spatial maps of contamination for the Gulf of Mexico using GIS-formatted data files.
• Assessing the efficacy of the spill response using real-time analysis products and cruise reports.

Strengths

• Data is directly tied to a major environmental disaster with a precise collection period from 2010-07-14 to 2010-07-19.
• Includes both raw sensor data and synthesized real-time analysis products like charts and maps for decision support.

Limitations

• Key metadata such as column names, row count, and specific file formats are not provided in the available sources.
• The data is described as raw and provisional, indicating it may not be fully quality-controlled.
• A conflict exists in the 'last updated' metadata between platforms (2010 vs. 2026), casting doubt on maintenance.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Collected aboard the R/V RYAN CHOUEST using instruments including fluorometer and gas chromatograph.

Time Range

2010-07-14 to 2010-07-19

Freshness

2026-04-01 15:17:42.724738

Geography

Gulf of Mexico