Oceanographic Data from Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Response Cruise

August 9-12, 2010 oceanographic data were collected aboard the R/V Brooks McCall in the Gulf of Mexico in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The dataset includes measurements of conductivity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, salinity, and concentrations of volatile organic compounds, total petroleum hydrocarbons, and suspended solids. Data were collected by the Subsurface Monitoring Unit, a consortium of government and corporate agencies, and managed by NOAA's National Coastal Data Development Center.

Use Cases

• Correlate Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) and Volatile Organic Compounds concentrations with concurrent CTD measurements like temperature and salinity to track plume movement.
• Analyze time-series profiles of dissolved oxygen and CDOM fluorescence to assess biological activity and organic matter degradation following the spill.
• Model water density and sound velocity from conductivity, temperature, and pressure data to understand changes in water column structure.
• Use Semivolatile Organic Compounds and suspended solids data with location profiles to evaluate sediment contamination and particle transport.

Strengths

• Data collected over a focused 4-day cruise in direct response to a major environmental event.
• Includes multiple data types: physical (CTD), optical (transmission, LISST), and laboratory chemical analysis (VOCs, TPH).
• Underwent preliminary quality assurance and control procedures by the National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC).

Limitations

• Sample size is limited to a single, short-duration cruise, providing a snapshot rather than long-term monitoring.
• Analytical chemistry data are labeled as provisional, indicating they may not be final or fully validated.
• Geographic coverage is restricted to the specific cruise track of the Brooks McCall in the Gulf of Mexico.

Provenance

Source

Subsurface Monitoring Unit (SMU), collected for NOAA NCEI (formerly NODC).

Collection Method

In-situ collection via CTD, LISST, transmissometer, fluorometer, oxygen meter, bottle samples, and subsequent onshore laboratory analysis.

Time Range

2010-08-09 to 2010-08-12.

Freshness

Data is from 2010 and represents a historical event snapshot; not updated.

Geography

Gulf of Mexico, along the cruise track of the R/V Brooks McCall.