Chemical oceanographic data, including Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) and fluorescence, were collected in the Gulf of Mexico from August 27 to September 1, 2010. The Subsurface Monitoring Unit (SMU), a multi-agency group, gathered this data in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill using instruments like fluorometers and gas chromatographs. The dataset contains raw and provisional sensor data alongside analysis products like charts, maps, and GIS files.
Use Cases
- Analyze spatial and temporal trends of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) concentrations to map the subsurface oil plume.
- Correlate fluorescence measurements with TPH data to calibrate or validate remote sensing methods for oil detection.
- Use the geospatial data products (charts, maps, GIS files) for historical reconstruction of the spill's affected area.
- Assess the effectiveness of subsurface monitoring strategies by examining data collection methods and coverage during the response cruise.
Strengths
- Data collected during a critical 6-day response cruise immediately following a major environmental disaster.
- Includes direct chemical measurements (TPH) and optical indicators (fluorescence) for cross-validation.
Limitations
- Data is described as raw and provisional, indicating it may not be fully quality-controlled or calibrated.
- Temporal coverage is limited to a single, short cruise (6 days), providing only a snapshot of conditions.
- Specific sample sizes, row counts, and detailed column structures are unknown from the provided description.
Provenance
- Source
- Subsurface Monitoring Unit (SMU) and NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).
- Collection Method
- Data collected aboard the R/V Ryan Chouest using fluorometers, gas chromatographs, and physical sampling devices.
- Time Range
- 2010-08 27 to 2010-09-01
- Freshness
- null
- Geography
- Gulf of Mexico