Gulf of Mexico Oceanographic Data from Deepwater Horizon Spill Response
Updated 16y ago
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Description
Oceanographic data from the Gulf of Mexico were collected aboard the F. G. Walton Smith research vessel from May 26 to June 2, 2010, in direct response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The Subsurface Monitoring Unit, a consortium of government and corporate agencies, gathered chemical, physical, and profile measurements. This dataset includes provisional laboratory analysis results and products created for real-time decision support.
Use Cases
Analyze correlations between CDOM fluorescence and Volatile Organic Compounds to track oil plume dispersion.
Model water density and sound velocity profiles from CTD-derived conductivity, temperature, and pressure data.
Assess dissolved oxygen levels against salinity and temperature to evaluate potential hypoxic conditions post-spill.
Integrate provisional laboratory analysis of water and sediment samples with in-situ fluorometer and oxygen meter readings for validation.
Strengths
CTD data underwent preliminary quality assurance and control procedures at the National Coastal Data Development Center.
Data collection was focused on a critical 8-day period immediately following a major environmental disaster.
Includes multiple data types: in-situ sensor measurements, laboratory analysis, and derived products like charts and maps.
Limitations
Analytical chemistry data are labeled as provisional, indicating they are not final validated results.
The temporal coverage is limited to a single 8-day cruise, providing only a snapshot of conditions.
Specific sample sizes, row counts, and detailed column schemas are not provided in the available metadata.
Provenance
Source
Subsurface Monitoring Unit (SMU), collected for NOAA NCEI (Accession 0069084).
Collection Method
Data gathered via shipboard CTD, bottle samples, fluorometer, oxygen meter, and other physical sampling devices, with subsequent onshore laboratory analysis.
Time Range
2010-05-26 to 2010-06-02
Freshness
Data collection ended on 2010-06-02; it is a historical snapshot with no ongoing updates.
Geography
Gulf of Mexico, specifically the area of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
License terms are unspecified. Data includes provisional laboratory results which may require further validation. Individual metadata records must be consulted for specific information about each constituent data set.