FLoSEE Expedition: Oceanographic Baseline Data from the Gulf of Mexico

Oceanographic data was collected during the Florida Shelf Edge Exploration (FLoSEE) expedition aboard the RV Seward Johnson in July and August 2010. The dataset likely contains measurements from the water column and seafloor, including CTD data, salinity, oxygen, plankton tows, and fathometer readings. Its primary purpose was to establish environmental benchmarks to assess potential impacts from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Use Cases

• Establishing ecological benchmarks for coral and benthic species health.
• Assessing water quality parameters like salinity and oxygen concentration.
• Analyzing plankton abundance and diversity from net tow samples.
• Mapping seafloor bathymetry using fathometer and echo sounder data.
• Studying the potential long-term environmental effects of oil spills and dispersants.

Strengths

• Data was collected using multiple technologies, including a submersible and a remotely operated vehicle.
• Provides a pre-impact baseline for a region affected by a major oil spill.
• Expedition is documented across multiple authoritative platforms (Data.gov, NASA Earthdata).

Limitations

• Column names and a precise row count are not provided in the available metadata.
• Conflicting 'last updated' dates exist between sources (2010 vs. 2026), suggesting possible metadata errors.
• Specific data formats and access details are unclear from the descriptions.

Provenance

Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce

Collection Method

Collected via research vessel using CTD, submersible, ROV, plankton nets, and echo sounders.

Time Range

July 9, - August 9, 2010

Freshness

2026-04-01 15:25:02.885499 (Data.gov), though this conflicts with the 2010 date from NASA Earthdata.

Geography

Eastern Gulf of Mexico and North Atlantic Ocean, along Florida's shelf edge.