Brooks McCall: Oceanographic Data from Deepwater Horizon Spill Response

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data from the Brooks McCall research vessel documents chemical and physical oceanographic conditions in the Gulf of Mexico from August 15-19, 2010. The dataset was collected by a multi-agency Subsurface Monitoring Unit in direct response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. It includes measurements of hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, conductivity, temperature, salinity, and suspended solids, gathered using CTD, LISST, fluorometer, and other instruments.

Use Cases

• Tracking hydrocarbon dispersion and degradation based on Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) and Semivolatile Organic Compound measurements.
• Assessing water column contamination using Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) analysis.
• Modeling plume behavior by correlating chemical concentrations with physical parameters like salinity, temperature, and water density.
• Evaluating water quality impacts through measurements of dissolved oxygen and suspended solids.

Strengths

• Data collection was part of a coordinated, multi-agency government response to a major environmental event.
• Covers a specific, critical 5-day sampling period immediately following the Deepwater Horizon spill.
• Includes both in-situ sensor data (CTD, LISST) and provisional onshore laboratory analysis results.

Limitations

• Column names and data structure are not specified in the provided metadata.
• Analytical chemistry data are described as provisional, indicating they may not be final or fully quality-controlled.
• Conflicting 'last updated' dates exist between platforms (2010-08-19 vs. 2026-04-01), obscuring data currency.

Provenance

Source

Subsurface Monitoring Unit (SMU), consisting of multiple government and corporate agencies, collected aboard the R/V Brooks McCall.

Collection Method

Data gathered via CTD, LISST, transmissometer, bottle samples, fluorometer, and oxygen meter, with onshore laboratory analysis.

Time Range

2010-08-15 to 2010-08-19

Freshness

2026-04-01 15:05:37.489020

Geography

Gulf of Mexico