DEEP SEARCH BMCC18: Oceanographic Data from Atlantic Canyons and Seeps

2018-09-27 to 2018-10-08 marks the collection period for this oceanographic dataset from the DEEP SEARCH expedition. It contains Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) casts, Lander deployments, and Piston Core samples, alongside event logs, targeting mid- and South-Atlantic canyons and cold seeps. The data supports analysis of planktonic and benthic communities, including corals, and studies of genetic and trophic connectivity.

Use Cases

• Analyzing water column properties (e.g., salinity, temperature) from CTD data to characterize deep-sea canyon environments.
• Studying genetic connectivity among coral populations across different seep and canyon sites.
• Investigating trophic connectivity by linking water column nutrient data to benthic community samples.
• Using event and sample logs to reconstruct the spatial and temporal context of core and Lander deployments.

Strengths

• Data collection is focused on a specific, high-interest ecological niche: Atlantic canyons and cold seeps.
• The dataset includes multiple complementary data types (CTD, Landers, Cores, logs) for integrated analysis.
• It is hosted on multiple authoritative platforms (NASA Earthdata, Data.gov), indicating recognized value.

Limitations

• Key metadata is missing: column names, row counts, and file sizes are listed as 'unknown' or 'None' across all sources.
• There is a conflict in the 'last updated' metadata, with one source showing 2026-04-01 (a future date) and another showing 2018-10-08.
• Documentation appears sparse, with no details on data processing, quality control, or specific measurement parameters.

Provenance

Source

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

Collection Method

Collected during the DEEP SEARCH - BMCC18 expedition aboard the R/V Brooks McCall.

Time Range

2018-09-27 to 2018-10-08

Freshness

2026-04-01 14:55:01.352936

Geography

North Atlantic Ocean, specifically mid- and South-Atlantic canyon and cold seep habitats.