Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Data for Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Assessment

NOAA NCEI archives data on 28 whale and dolphin species, the Florida manatee, and five sea turtle species collected for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill response and damage assessment. The collection includes discrete samples, field observations, photographs, and telemetry tracks compiled by NOAA OR&R and Trustees. Data spans from June 19, -2001 to February 16, 2016, with a focus on the 2010 spill event.

Use Cases

• Analyze telemetry tracks to assess habitat displacement of Kemp's ridley or loggerhead sea turtles post-spill.
• Correlate field observation records of whale and dolphin species with environmental data to determine injury magnitude.
• Use field photographs for visual documentation and species identification verification across the Gulf ecosystem.
• Model population vulnerability by integrating discrete sample data from endangered species like the Florida manatee.

Strengths

• Covers 28 whale and dolphin species plus 5 sea turtle species and the Florida manatee.
• Data compiled by authoritative NOAA offices (OR&R, NCEI) for a formal legal assessment (NRDA/PDARP).
• Includes multiple data modalities: samples, observations, photographs, and telemetry tracks.

Limitations

• Specific row counts, column details, and file sizes are not provided.
• Data is temporally static, with the last update recorded in February 2016.
• Geographic scope is limited to the Gulf of Mexico region.

Provenance

Source

NOAA Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R) and Trustees, archived by NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).

Collection Method

Compiled from Marine Mammals and Sea Turtles Technical Working Groups (TWGs), including discrete samples, field observations, photographs, and telemetry.

Time Range

2001-06-19 to 2016-02-16, with focus on the 2010 Deepwater Horizon event.

Freshness

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Geography

Gulf of Mexico, approximately 40 miles southeast of the Louisiana coast.