Processed CTD Oceanographic Data from Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Response

NetCDF files contain processed Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth (CTD) casts from the R/V HOS Davis Cruise 03, collected as part of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill Natural Resource Damage Assessment. Measurements include temperature, conductivity/salinity, depth, dissolved oxygen, and fluorometry to characterize the water column. The dataset was produced by NOAA and covers a specific cruise leg from September 9 to September 27, 2010.

Use Cases

• Analyzing vertical profiles of sea water conductivity and temperature to understand salinity distribution post-spill.
• Correlating fluorometry measurements with other sampling to assess potential phytoplankton response or oil dispersion.
• Using dissolved oxygen and depth (pressure) data to evaluate water column stratification and oxygen conditions.
• Mapping the spatial distribution of oceanographic parameters using associated latitude and longitude from the cruise track.

Strengths

• Data has been processed and undergone quality checking, as stated in the source descriptions.
• Contains multiple related physical parameters (temperature, conductivity, depth, dissolved oxygen, fluorometry) for integrated analysis.
• Sourced from a defined NOAA research vessel cruise (R/V HOS Davis, Cruise 03) ensuring controlled collection methods.

Limitations

• The exact row count, file size, and complete column list are not provided by any source.
• Sources conflict on the 'last updated' date, with one listing 2026-04-01 and another 2010-09 27, creating uncertainty about recent modifications.
• Specific data collection and processing methodology details are not described.

Provenance

Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce

Collection Method

Conductivity Temperature and Depth (CTD) measurements collected aboard the R/V HOS Davis.

Time Range

2010-09-09 to 2010-09-27

Freshness

2026-04-01 15:17:32.459514 (from datagov, though this conflicts with the NASA Earthdata date).

Geography

Gulf of Mexico, specifically referencing the Mississippi Canyon and Gulf Coast.