A 2010 Gulf of Mexico cruise aboard the Ferrel collected chemical and physical oceanographic data following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Measurements include CDOM fluorescence, volatile organic compounds, conductivity, temperature, and dissolved oxygen. The Subsurface Monitoring Unit, a multi-agency group, gathered the data from July 30 to August 3, 2010.
Use Cases
- Analyze Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) and Volatile Organic Compounds concentrations to map pollutant dispersion.
- Correlate conductivity, salinity, and temperature profiles to assess changes in water column structure post-spill.
- Model dissolved oxygen levels against CDOM fluorescence to evaluate impacts on biological activity.
- Use hydrostatic pressure and sound velocity data for oceanographic profiling and instrument calibration.
Strengths
- Data collected over a 5-day period during a critical environmental event.
- Includes multiple measurement types: chemical (TPH, VOCs), physical (temperature, salinity), and biological (CDOM fluorescence).
- CTD data underwent preliminary quality assurance and control procedures.
Limitations
- Analytical chemistry data are labeled provisional, indicating potential unreviewed or preliminary status.
- Sample size and row count are unknown, limiting statistical confidence.
- Data is temporally limited to a single, short cruise immediately after the spill.
Provenance
- Source
- Subsurface Monitoring Unit (SMU), consisting of multiple government and corporate agencies.
- Collection Method
- Data collected aboard the Ferrel using CTD, bottle, fluorometer, oxygen meter, and other physical sampling devices.
- Time Range
- 2010-07-30 to 2010-08-03
- Freshness
- null
- Geography
- Gulf of Mexico