Gulf of Mexico Hydrographic and Chemical Oceanography Survey Data

NEGOM CTD data originates from the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico Physical Oceanography Program, conducted by Texas A&M University under contract with the U.S. Minerals Management Service. The dataset contains hydrographic and acoustic Doppler current profiler surveys from two research cruises in 1997-1998, covering 94 and 98 sampling stations respectively. Measurements include conductivity, temperature, pressure, dissolved oxygen, six nutrients, and phytoplankton pigments.

Use Cases

• Modeling water density profiles using conductivity, temperature, and pressure (CTD) measurements from continuous station profiles.
• Analyzing nutrient cycles (nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, silicate, ammonium, urea) from up to twelve water samples per hydrographic station.
• Studying phytoplankton biomass distribution via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) pigment data from surface and chlorophyll maximum layers.
• Mapping current patterns and backscatter using continuous acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) measurements along cruise tracks.
• Investigating particulate organic carbon fluxes by analyzing filtered water samples from surface, middle, and bottom depths at 60 stations per cruise.

Strengths

• Data subjected to stringent quality assurance/quality control procedures as described in the program report.
• Comprehensive vertical profiling at each station for conductivity, temperature, pressure, irradiance, fluorescence, and light transmission.
• Multi-parameter analysis includes physical, chemical, and biological measurements from two dedicated research cruises.

Limitations

• Dataset is temporally limited, covering primary collection from October 1997 to June 1998.
• Spatial coverage is restricted to the continental shelf and upper slope between the Mississippi Delta and Tampa Bay.
• Sample sizes for specific analyses (e.g., 51-61 stations for pigment analysis) may limit statistical power for sub-regional studies.

Provenance

Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce, via the NEGOM-COH program.

Collection Method

Collected from hydrographic/ADCP surveys (N1 and N2 cruises) using CTD casts, water sampling, expendable bathythermographs, and continuous ADCP measurements.

Time Range

Primary collection from October 1997 through June 1998.

Freshness

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Geography

Northeastern Gulf of Mexico, continental shelf and upper slope between the Mississippi Delta and Tampa Bay, water depths 10 to 1000 meters.