Deepwater Horizon Oceanographic Chemistry Data from the Brooks McCall Vessel

NOAA NCEI Accession 0074853 contains chemical, physical, and laboratory analysis data collected aboard the research vessel Brooks McCall. The dataset includes measurements of Semivolatile Organic Compounds, Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons, and Volatile Organic Compounds in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Data were collected by a multi-agency Subsurface Monitoring Unit from September 7 to 11, 2010, using CTD instruments, bottles, and other physical sampling devices.

Use Cases

• Analyze spatial and temporal trends of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) concentrations in the Gulf of Mexico following the spill.
• Correlate measurements of Volatile Organic Compounds with CTD-derived physical water column profiles.
• Use provisional laboratory analysis data from water and sediment samples to assess initial contamination levels.
• Integrate Semivolatile Organic Compounds data with other spill response datasets for a comprehensive pollution footprint analysis.

Strengths

• Data collected during a critical 5-day period immediately following a major environmental disaster.
• Includes multiple data types: chemical concentrations, physical profiles, and provisional laboratory analyses.
• Underwent preliminary quality assurance and control procedures at the National Coastal Data Development Center.

Limitations

• Analytical chemistry data are explicitly noted as provisional, indicating they are not final validated results.
• Temporal coverage is limited to a short 5-day window in September 2010.
• Specific sample sizes, row counts, and measurement uncertainties are not provided in the available description.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Collected via shipboard CTD instruments, bottles, and physical sampling devices, with onshore laboratory analysis.

Time Range

2010-09-07 to 2010-09-11

Freshness

Data collection ended on 2010-09-11; it is a historical snapshot with no ongoing updates.

Geography

Gulf of Mexico, specifically the area of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.