Deepwater Horizon Gulf of Mexico Oceanographic Measurements
Updated 16y ago
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Description
Oceanographic data from the Gulf of Mexico were collected aboard the Ferrel vessel from July 15 to July 23, 2010 in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The Subsurface Monitoring Unit, a multi-agency group, gathered measurements including CDOM fluorescence, petroleum hydrocarbons, conductivity, and temperature using CTD, fluorometers, and other instruments. Provisional laboratory analysis results for water and sediment samples are included.
Use Cases
Analyze Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) and Volatile Organic Compounds concentrations against salinity and temperature to model pollutant transport.
Correlate CDOM fluorescence measurements with dissolved oxygen levels to assess impacts on marine biological activity.
Use conductivity, hydrostatic pressure, and water density profiles from CTD data to understand the spill's effect on water column structure.
Map provisional laboratory analysis results for Semivolatile Organic Compounds against sampling locations for spatial contamination assessment.
Strengths
Data collected over a focused 9-day period immediately following a major environmental event.
Includes multiple measurement types: chemical (TPH, VOCs), physical (conductivity, temperature), and biological indicators (CDOM fluorescence, dissolved oxygen).
Provisional laboratory analysis provides onshore validation of field samples.
Limitations
Sample size and row count are unknown, limiting statistical confidence.
Analytical chemistry data are labeled as provisional, indicating potential unverified results.
Geographic coverage is limited to the Gulf of Mexico cruise track of a single vessel.
Provenance
Source
Subsurface Monitoring Unit (SMU) and NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).
Collection Method
Data gathered via ship-based instruments (CTD, fluorometer, oxygen meter) and physical sampling, with onshore laboratory analysis.
Time Range
2010-07-15 to 2010-07-23.
Freshness
null
Geography
Gulf of Mexico.
Data includes provisional laboratory results which may require verification. Individual metadata records for specific data sets must be consulted for detailed information. Original file formats and structure are unknown.