LATEX-B Gulf of Mexico Eddy Circulation Study Data 1987-1994

Physical oceanography data from the LATEX-B study, a major federal initiative to understand circulation and reduce risks for offshore oil and gas operations. The dataset represents the final submission from Louisiana State University, comprising 98 files totaling 1.93 gigabytes of measurements. It was collected in the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and other waters as part of the largest physical oceanography program in the Gulf, which began in September 1991.

Use Cases

• Analyzing eddy formation and circulation patterns in the Gulf of Mexico using turbidity and radiation measurements.
• Modeling water column properties and their variability over the seven-year study period.
• Assessing environmental baselines and conditions relevant to offshore oil and gas infrastructure planning.
• Studying long-term oceanic processes in coastal and shelf regions from the Mississippi River to the Rio Grande.

Strengths

• Data originates from a substantial, $16.2 million federal research initiative, indicating a high level of institutional investment.
• The LATEX program was the largest physical oceanography study ever undertaken in the Gulf of Mexico at its time.
• The dataset represents the final and complete submission for the LATEX-B component, ensuring a consolidated record.

Limitations

• No documentation accompanies the data, which severely limits interpretability and usability.
• Specific column names, data formats, and row counts are unknown across all sources.
• Conflicting last updated dates exist between platforms (1994-07-12 vs. 2026-03 05), creating uncertainty about metadata maintenance.

Provenance

Source

Nathan Mascaro, LSU Coastal Studies Institute, Center for Coastal, Energy & Environmental Resources, submitted to NOAA NCEI.

Collection Method

Data collected from unknown platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and other waters as part of the LATEX-B field study.

Time Range

1987-01-01 to 1994-07-12

Freshness

2026-03-05 23:09:04.711737

Geography

Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and other waters, specifically the continental shelf from the Mississippi River to the Rio Grande.