Abstract:

This dataset contains seasonal and interannual CTD data collected from the northeastern Gulf of Mexico and the west Florida shelf. The contents of the dataset are an assessment of the seasonal and interannual changes in distributions of temperature, salinity, density, oxygen, chlorophyll and CDOM fluorescence, turbidity, and Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Suggested Citation:

Daly, Kendra. 2016. CTD and other environmental data for the northeastern Gulf of Mexico and west Florida shelf: June 2012 – August 2014. Distributed by: Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative Information and Data Cooperative (GRIIDC), Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N7QR4V28

Publications:

Robbins, L. L., Daly, K. L., Barbero, L., Wanninkhof, R., He, R., Zong, H., … Smith, C. G. (2018). Spatial and Temporal Variability of p CO2 , Carbon Fluxes, and Saturation State on the West Florida Shelf. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 123(9), 6174–6188. doi:10.1029/2018jc014195

Daly, K. L., Remsen, A., Outram, D. M., Broadbent, H., Kramer, K., & Dubickas, K. (2021). Resilience of the zooplankton community in the northeast Gulf of Mexico during and after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 163, 111882. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111882

Quigg, A., Parsons, M., Bargu, S., Ozhan, K., Daly, K. L., Chakraborty, S., … Buskey, E. J. (2021). Marine phytoplankton responses to oil and dispersant exposures: Knowledge gained since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 164, 112074. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112074

Purpose:

To assess the seasonal and interannual changes in distributions of temperature, salinity, density, oxygen, chlorophyll and CDOM fluorescence, turbidity, and Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Data Parameters and Units:

Depth (m), temperature (°C), salinity (PSU), conductivity (S/m and mS/cm), density (sigma-theta, kg/m3; sigma-t, kg/m3), pressure (dB), oxygen (ml/l, mg/l, µmol/kg, % Saturation), CDOM fluorescence (mg/m3), chlorophyll fluorescence (ECO-AFL/FL) (mg/m3), turbidity (NTU), Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR, µE m-2s-1), speed of sound (Chen-Millero, m/s; Delgrosso, m/s; Wilson, m/s).

Methods:

CTD: Environmental data were collected aboard the R/V Weatherbird II and the R/V Bellows. A CTD-rosette was deployed between the surface (2 m) and up to a maximum depth ranging from 5 m to about 1,450 m, depending on the bottom depth of the station. Sensors mounted on the rosette included: SBE 25 CTD, SBE 43 DO, Biospherical PAR sensor, WET Labs CDOM (FLCDRTD), Wet Labs fluorometer and turbidity sensors (FLNTURTD), and WET Labs C-Star transmissometer. The CTD was deployed to ~ 2 m depth, the power turned on, and allowed to sit a few minutes until the pumps turned on and sensors stabilized and equilibrated. The CTD was then lowered at a rate of 30 m/min for the first 100 m, and thereafter at 60 m/min. On the downcast, the depths of the fluorescence maxima, top of the thermocline, base of the thermocline, and other features of interest were noted on the CTD log sheet. Niskin bottles were fired at these depths and other pre-determined depths on the upcast. Water samples were collected during more than one CTD cast at some stations where water demand was high or the depth was >200 m. The Weatherbird II rosette held 12-12 L Niskin bottles, and the Bellows rosette held 12-5 L Niskin bottles. Raw data were saved as hex files and converted to 1 m bin averaged data using the Sea-Bird Electronics Inc. Data Processing Software v.7.23.2. CTD data are provided in excel files. Each cruise is in a separate folder, with station or cast data (if more than one cast per station) provided in different excel files. Files are named by cruise/date_station number_cast number. BE: RV Bellows; WB: RV Weatherbird II.

Instruments:

Sensors mounted on the rosette included: SBE 25 CTD, SBE 43 DO, Biospherical PAR sensor, WET Labs CDOM (FLCDRTD), Wet Labs fluorometer and turbidity sensors (FLNTURTD), and WET Labs C-Star transmissometer.

Individual Files: