Oceanographic Measurements from Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Response Cruise

Over 70 days of chemical, physical, and profile oceanographic data were collected aboard the R/V Pelican in the Gulf of Mexico from May 10 to July 21, 2010. The Subsurface Monitoring Unit, a multi-agency group, gathered this data in direct response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Measurements include CDOM fluorescence, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, salinity, temperature, and water density.

Use Cases

• Analyze temporal changes in CDOM fluorescence and dissolved oxygen to track hydrocarbon plume movement and biodegradation.
• Model water density and sound velocity profiles from conductivity, temperature, and pressure data for hydrodynamic studies.
• Correlate salinity and temperature measurements with other spill response data to assess mixing and water mass structure.
• Use hydrostatic pressure and profile data to construct vertical sections of the water column's physical state during the event.

Strengths

• Data collected over a focused 70-day period immediately following a major environmental event.
• Includes 8 distinct measured parameters: CDOM fluorescence, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, hydrostatic pressure, salinity, sound velocity, temperature, water density.
• CTD data underwent preliminary quality assurance and control procedures by the National Coastal Data Development Center.

Limitations

• Exact row count and spatial resolution of sampling stations are unknown.
• Data is from a single vessel cruise, limiting spatial coverage to its specific track in the Gulf of Mexico.
• Temporal coverage is limited to 2010, providing a snapshot rather than long-term baseline.

Provenance

Source

Subsurface Monitoring Unit (SMU) via NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).

Collection Method

Collected using CTD, fluorometer, oxygen meter, and other physical sampling devices aboard the R/V Pelican.

Time Range

2010-05-10 to 2010-07-21

Freshness

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Geography

Gulf of Mexico, specific cruise track of the R/V Pelican.