Marine toxic substance and other data was collected in the Gulf of Mexico between 1975 and 1978. The data is available in the F144 format of NODC for Marine Toxic Substances and other formats. The F144 format contains data on ambient concentrations of toxic substances and other pollutants in the marine environment. The data derive from laboratory analyses of samples of water, sediment, or marine organisms. Samples may have been collected near marine discharge sites or during ocean monitoring surveys of large areas. Field observations of tar deposits on beaches may also be reported. Survey information includes platform type, start and end dates, and investigator and institution. If data are collected near a discharge site, discharge location, depth, distance to shore, average volume, and other characteristics are reported. Position, date, time and environmental conditions are reported for each sample station. Environmental data may include meteorological and sea surface conditions, tide stage and height, depth of the thermocline or mixed layer surface temperature and salinity, and wave height and periods. Sample characteristics, collection methods, and laboratory techniques are reported for each sample collected and analyzed. The data record comprises concentration values (or a code to indicate trace amounts) for each chemical substance analyzed. Chemical substances are identified by codes based on the registry numbers assigned by the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) of the American Chemical Society. Marine organisms from which samples have been taken are identified using the 12-digit NODC Taxonomic Code. A text record is available for optional comments.

The National Status and Trends Program is comprised of three nationwide programs: Benthic Surveillance, Mussel Watch, and Bioeffects. These programs are in place to observe estuarine and coastal waters nationwide to describe the current status and detect changes in the environmental quality using long-term, continuous monitoring. Special Studies is another program which assesses the environmental impacts of different events, such as Hurricane Katrina. Mussel Watch is the longest continuous, nationwide contaminant monitoring program, running from 1986 to present, analyzing sediment and bivalve tissue for organic contaminants and trace metals. Bioeffects Assessment Program has completed over 30 regional studies since 1991, studying sediment contaminants, toxicity, and the condition of benthic communities. Benthic Surveillance monitored chemical concentrations of bottom-swelling fish and sediments, as well as biological effects of contaminant exposure. This project was discontinued in 1993.

Marine chemistry, fish / shell-fish surveys, benthic organisms, and marine toxic substances and pollutants data were collected using current meter and other instruments from J.W. POWELL and other platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. Data were collected from 26 January 1993 to 13 June 1994. Data were submitted by Dr. Gary Wolf of Texas A&M University with support from the Gulf of Mexico Offshore Operations Monitoring Experiment (GOOMEX). Data has been processed by NODC to the NODC standard F069 (Marine Chemistry), F123 (Fish/Shell-fish Surveys), F132 (Benthic Organisms), and F144 (Marine Toxic Substances and Pollutants) formats. The F069 format is used for data from chemical analyses of seawater samples. Cruise information, position, date, and time is reported for each station along with sample depth, temperature, salinity, and density (sigma-t). Chemical and biochemical parameters that may be reported include: dissolved oxygen, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, inorganic phosphate, and silicate; dissolved organic carbon, particulate organic carbon, and particulate organic nitrogen; and apparent oxygen utilization, percent oxygen saturation, adenosine triphosphate, total phaeophytin, total chlorophyll, total suspended matter, total recoverable petroleum hydrocarbons, and total resolved light hydrocarbons. The F123 format is used for data from field sampling of marine fish and shellfish. The data derive from analysis of midwater or bottom tow catches and provide information on population density and distribution. Cruise information, position, date, time, gear type, fishing distance and duration, and number of hauls are reported for each survey. Environmental data may include meteorological conditions, surface and bottom temperature and salinity, and current direction and speed. Bottom trawl or other gear dimensions and characteristics are also reported. Catch statistics (e.g., weight, volume, number of fish per unit volume) may be reported for both total haul and for individual species. Biological characteristics of selected specimens, predator/ prey information (from stomach contents analysis), and growth data may also be included. A text record is available for comments. The F132 contains data from field sampling or surveys of bottom dwelling marine organisms. The data provide information on species abundance, distribution, and biomass; they may have been collected by point sampling (grab or core), by tow (dredge, trawl or net), by photographic surveys, or by other methods. Cruise information such as vessel, start and end dates, investigator, and institution/agency; station numbers, positions and times; and equipment and methods are reported for each survey. Environmental data reported at each sampling site may include meteorological and sea surface conditions; surface and bottom temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen; and sediment characteristics. Number of individual organisms and total weight of organisms is reported for each species. A text record is available for comments. The F144 contains data on ambient concentrations of toxic substances and other pollutants in the marine environment. The data derive from laboratory analyses of samples of water, sediment, or marine organisms. Samples may have been collected near marine discharge sites or during ocean monitoring surveys of large areas. Field observations of tar deposits on beaches may also be reported. Survey information includes platform type, start and end dates, and investigator and institution. If data are collected near a discharge site, discharge location, depth, distance to shore, average volume, and other characteristics are reported. Position, date, time and environmental conditions are reported for each sample station. Environmental data may include meteorological and sea surface conditions, tide stage and height, depth of the thermocline or mixed layer surface temperature and salinity, and wave height and periods. Sample characteristics, collection methods, and

Chemical, physical and profile oceanographic data were collected aboard NOAA Ship Pisces in the Gulf of Mexico from 2010-08-18 to 2010-09-02 in response to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill event on April 20, 2010, by the Subsurface Monitoring Unit (SMU), which consisted of multiple government and corporate agencies. These data include CDOM fluorescence, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, fluorescence, hydrostatic pressure, salinity, sound velocity, temperature and water density. The instruments used to collect these data included CTD, fluorometer and oxygen meter along with other physical sampling devices. More specific information about each dataset is located in their individual metadata records. The CTD data underwent preliminary quality assurance and control procedures at the National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC). Cruise level information consisting of data management documents, cruise reports and plans, videos and pictures, and other miscellaneous documentation were gathered by the data managers.

The accession contains Sediment Toxicity data collected from Gulf of Mexico, Hudson Bay, New York Bight, North American Coastline-North, and Pamlico Sound as part of National Status and Trends (NS&T) program. The data was collected from multiple ships between March 18, 1991 and March 3, 1993 by National Ocean Service, Rockville, MD. Originator's Macintosh Excel data submitted by Dr. Edward R. Long were converted to Lotus 1-2-3 Format at NODC. NOAA initiated an area-wide survey of sediment toxicity in 1991 to provide internally-consistent data on the spatial extent and severity of the toxicity. The intent of this survey was to sample all of the major regions within the study area (Hudson-Raritan Estuary, 40 N and 73 - 74 W), collect surficial fine-grained sediments, and determine the degree of toxicity of the sediments to laboratory organisms. Three toxicity tests were performed: a 10-day, solid phase survival test with the amphipod ampelisca abdita, a 48-hour, elutriate/ liquid phase test of development/survival with the larvae of the clam mulinia lateralis, and a 15-minute organic extract test of bioluminescence with the bacterium photobacterium phosphoreum (microtox test). Data obtained from the study "magnitude and extent of sediment toxicity in the Hudson-Raritan Estuary" was submitted in spreadsheet format in Macintosh Excel. The documentation includes details of the stations, methodology, and summary of results. Additional information may be obtained by contacting: the National Status and Trends (NS&T) Program which has monitored the concentrations of selected toxicants in sediments, oysters, and bottom-dwelling fish in Tampa Bay since 1986. The observation of high concentrations of some chemicals has prompted the NS&T Program to initiate an intensive survey of the biological effects of toxicants in the estuary. NOAA's assessment of the biological effects associated with toxicants in Tampa Bay was initiated with a research plan that involved analyses of three media: sediments, bivalve mollusks, and demersal fish. The sediment toxicity tests were intended to provide information based on laboratory tests in which "natural" factors would be controlled in assessing the significance of the toxicants, and to provide bioeffects information on a small spatial scale. Sediment samples for this study were collected in: Hills- borough Bay, all of Tampa Bay, Boca Ciega Bay, cockroach Bay, Terra Ceia Bay, Manatee River, Anna Maria Sound, St. Petersburg Harbor, Gulfport/Bear Creek, and Charlotte Harbor (i.e., between 27 N and 83 W). NOAA initiated an area-wide survey of sediment toxicity in 1991 to provide internally-consistent data on the spatial extent and severity of the toxicity. The intent of this survey was to sample all of the major regions within the study area (Newark Bay, and Arthur Kill and Passaic and Hackensack Rivers, 40 N and 75 W), collect surficial fine-grained sediments, and determine the degree of toxicity of the sediments to laboratory organisms these data are the results of the amphipod bioassay (with the amphipod ampelisca abdita), expressed in terms of percent survival. The documentation includes details of the stations, methodology, and summary of results. Additional information may be obtained by contacting: NOAA/ORCA/ Bioeffects Assessment Branch 7600 Sand Point Way NE Seattle, WA 98115.

This data type contains data on ambient concentrations of toxic substances and other pollutants in the marine environment. The data derive from laboratory analyses of samples of water, sediment or marine organisms. Samples may have been collected near marine discharge sites or during ocean monitoring surveys of large areas. Field observations of tar deposits on beaches may also be reported. Survey information includes platform type, start and end dates, and investigator and institution. If data are collected near a discharge site, discharge location, depth, distance to shore, average volume, and other characteristics are reported. Position, date, time and environmental conditions are reported for each sample station. Environmental data may include meteorological and sea surface conditions, tide stage and height, depth of the thermocline or mixed layer, surface temperature and salinity, and wave height and periods. Sample characteristics, collection methods, and laboratory techniques are reported for each sample collected and analyzed. The data record comprises concentration values (or a code to indicate trace amounts) for each chemical substance analyzed. Chemical substances are identified by codes based on the registry numbers assigned by the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) of the American Chemical Society. Marine organisms from which samples have been taken are identified using the 12-digit NODC Taxonomic Code. A text record is available for optional comments. Data are sparse prior to the mid-1970's.

Conductivity Temperature and Depth (CTD) measurements were collected aboard NOAA Ship Pisces to determine physical oceanographic parameters of the water column, and in some cases used to help guide sample collection as part of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill sampling effort. **Temperature, conductivity/salinity, depth, dissolved oxygen, and fluorometry data** were collected onboard NOAA Ship Pisces. The final product is a series of NetCDF files containing every CTD cast that has been processed and quality checked.

Chemical, physical and profile oceanographic data were collected aboard NOAA Ship PISCES in the Gulf of Mexico from 2010-07-05 to 2010-08-14 in response to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill event on April 20, 2010, by the Subsurface Monitoring Unit (SMU), which consisted of multiple government and corporate agencies. These data include CDOM fluorescence, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, hydrostatic pressure, salinity, sound velocity, temperature and water density. The instruments used to collect these data included CTD, fluorometer and oxygen meter along with other physical sampling devices. More specific information about each dataset is located in their individual metadata records. The CTD data underwent preliminary quality assurance and control procedures at the National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC). Cruise level information consisting of data management documents, cruise reports and plans, videos and pictures, and other miscellaneous documentation were gathered by the data managers.