Gulf of Mexico Water Chemistry and Physics During Deepwater Horizon Spill

May 23-25, 2010 data includes chemical, physical, profile, and laboratory analysis from the research vessel Brooks McCall. It was collected by a multi-agency Subsurface Monitoring Unit in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The dataset contains measurements like CDOM fluorescence, Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons, conductivity, and temperature.

Use Cases

• Analyze Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) and Volatile Organic Compounds concentrations to map subsurface oil plume dispersion.
• Model relationships between hydrostatic pressure, temperature, salinity, and sound velocity for oceanographic profiling.
• Correlate CDOM fluorescence and attenuation/transmission data with suspended solids measurements to assess water clarity and particulate matter.
• Use dissolved oxygen and conductivity measurements to evaluate potential impacts on marine biogeochemical cycles post-spill.

Strengths

• Data collected over a focused 3-day period immediately following a major environmental event.
• Includes multiple data types from instruments like CTD, LISST, fluorometer, and oxygen meter.
• Underwent preliminary quality assurance and control procedures at the National Coastal Data Development Center.

Limitations

• Temporal coverage is limited to only three days in May 2010.
• Analytical chemistry data are labeled as provisional, indicating they are not final validated results.
• Sample size and spatial extent of the cruise are unknown from the description.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Collected aboard the Brooks McCall using CTD, LISST, transmissometer, bottle, fluorometer, oxygen meter, and other physical sampling devices.

Time Range

2010-05-23 to 2010-05-25

Freshness

null

Geography

Gulf of Mexico