NOAA Bigelow Cruise: Deepwater Horizon Subsurface Ocean Data
Updated 3mo ago
24files
Available on 2 platforms
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Description
Chemical, physical, and profile oceanographic data were collected aboard NOAA Ship HENRY B. BIGELOW in the Gulf of Mexico from 2010-07-28 to 2010-08-10 in direct response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The dataset includes measurements of CDOM fluorescence, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, hydrostatic pressure, salinity, sound velocity, temperature, and water density, collected using CTD, fluorometer, and oxygen meter instruments. It represents a targeted monitoring effort by a multi-agency Subsurface Monitoring Unit (SMU) following the environmental disaster.
Use Cases
Tracking subsurface oil plume dispersion based on CDOM fluorescence and salinity anomalies.
Assessing dissolved oxygen levels to evaluate potential hypoxic conditions caused by hydrocarbon degradation.
Modeling water column structure and density changes using conductivity, temperature, and pressure (CTD) profiles.
Calibrating acoustic equipment for spill monitoring using measured sound velocity data.
Strengths
Data collection was part of a coordinated, multi-agency government response (Subsurface Monitoring Unit) to a major environmental event.
CTD data underwent preliminary quality assurance and control procedures at the National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC).
Cruise-level documentation includes reports, plans, videos, and pictures, providing contextual metadata.
Limitations
Critical metadata such as row count, specific column names, and file formats are not provided on any platform.
The last update date conflicts between sources (2026-03-05 on Data.gov vs. 2010-08-10 on NASA EarthData), suggesting potential metadata staleness or errors.
The dataset's scope is limited to a single 14-day cruise following the spill, providing a snapshot rather than long-term time-series.
Provenance
Source
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce
Collection Method
Data collected aboard NOAA Ship HENRY B. BIGELOW using CTD, fluorometer, oxygen meter, and other physical sampling devices.
Time Range
2010-07-28 to 2010-08-10
Freshness
2026-03-05 23:47:43.904082 (from Data.gov, though this date may be a metadata artifact)
Geography
Gulf of Mexico
Dataset is listed under NODC/NCEI Accession 0069091. The presence on multiple platforms (Data.gov, NASA EarthData) indicates its importance but also highlights inconsistencies in reported metadata.