Gulf of Mexico Water Chemistry and Physics During Deepwater Horizon Spill
Updated 16y ago
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Description
Chemical, physical, and laboratory analysis data were collected aboard the Brooks McCall research vessel from July 28 to August 1, 2010, in direct response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The Subsurface Monitoring Unit, a consortium of government and corporate agencies, gathered measurements including attenuation/transmission, CDOM fluorescence, volatile organic compounds, total petroleum hydrocarbons, conductivity, salinity, and temperature. Instruments deployed included CTD, LISST, transmissometer, fluorometer, and oxygen meters.
Use Cases
Correlate total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and volatile organic compound measurements with CTD-derived salinity and temperature profiles to model subsurface oil plume behavior.
Analyze CDOM fluorescence and attenuation/transmission data against suspended solids measurements to assess water column clarity and particulate matter distribution post-spill.
Use conductivity, dissolved oxygen, and hydrostatic pressure time-series data to characterize the altered physical and chemical oceanographic conditions following the spill event.
Strengths
Data collection targeted a specific, major environmental disaster event, providing a focused temporal snapshot.
Includes multiple data types (chemical, physical, profile, lab analysis) from instruments like CTD, LISST, and fluorometers for a multi-faceted view.
CTD data underwent preliminary quality assurance and control procedures at the National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC).
Limitations
Temporal coverage is limited to a 5-day cruise in July-August 2010, providing a snapshot rather than long-term monitoring.
Analytical chemistry data are noted as provisional, indicating potential unverified lab results.
Sample size (number of stations or rows) and specific geographic coordinates within the Gulf of Mexico are unknown.
Provenance
Source
Subsurface Monitoring Unit (SMU) via NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).
Collection Method
Collected aboard the R/V Brooks McCall using CTD, LISST, transmissometer, bottle samples, fluorometer, and oxygen meter.
Time Range
2010-07-28 to 2010-08-01
Freshness
null
Geography
Gulf of Mexico
Data includes provisional laboratory analysis results. Associated products like charts, maps, and GIS files are mentioned but their availability is unspecified. The exact file formats and structure for accessing the core data are unknown.