This dataset reports conductivity, temperature, and depth data from R/V Bellows cruise BE-1205. This cruise took place from October 24-26, 2011 from the Florida Panhandle Bight at the head of DeSoto Canyon. Additionally it reports census data of coccolith species encountered in Gulf of Mexico water. Samples collected using CTD bottles on October 2011 cruise on the Bellows.

This dataset contains CTD, water quality, coccolith taxonomy, microzooplankton abundance, and quantitative phytoplankton profiles data collected from 26 sites off the Florida Panhandle at the head of DeSoto Canyon, Gulf of Mexico aboard the R/V Bellows cruise BE-1301 from 2012-07-08 to 2012-07-10. Water samples were collected and analyzed for nutrient concentrations at the Wetlands Research Laboratory at the University of West Florida. Quantitative nanoplankton census data were taken via scanning electron microscopy to determine after-the-fact, the effects of the Macondo Oil Spill on skeletal (coccolith)-bearing phytoplankton. This dataset also reports microzooplankton species abundance from 13 offshore shelf sites. Samples were collected by vertically towing a 10 micron mesh net through the photic zone. Samples were preserved in 2% Lugols Iodine fixative and were processed in the laboratory under an inverted compound microscope (200x magnification). Plankton samples were identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible. Abundances were recorded as individual counts as well as normalized abundance (i.e., number of each species/total number of specimens examined in sample). Additionally, quantitative phytoplankton profiles were taken specifically at 5 sites (P1, P3, P5, P7, P9) along the Pensacola transect. For this, one-liter samples were collected from the surface and at different depths using Niskin bottles. Samples were filtered onto a 0.45-micrometer nitrocellulose filter and air-dried. A portion of each filter was mounted on an aluminum stub, sputter-coated, and examined with a JEOL JSM-6480 LV scanning electron microscope. Diatoms, coccolithophores, and armored dinoflagellates were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic category. The number of cells of each taxon in a field of view at a magnification of 1000x was recorded, with up to 700 fields-of-view examined, depending on the density of phytoplankton in the sample. The dataset includes the depth, the volume filtered, the number of cells of each taxon counted, and the calculated abundance of each taxon in cells per liter. Micrographs taken during the analysis are included.

This dataset reports conductivity, temperature and depth data collected in the Northern Gulf of Mexico during the R/V Weatherbird II cruise WB-1318 from June 24-30th 2013. This data was collected using a CTD sled. Peripheral sensors collected oxygen, fluorescence, turbidity, and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) data.

This dataset contains conductivity, temperature, and depth data from R/V Bellows cruise BE-1322 of the offshore shelf of the Florida Panhandle Bight at the head of DeSoto Canyon from June 2nd to 4th, 2013. Water samples collected were analyzed by the Wetlands Research Laboratory at the University of West Florida for nutrient concentrations. Water samples were filtered in the lab and cell counts for phytoplankton species are reported. Phytoplankton were photographed using scanning electron microscopy and images are provided in this dataset.

This cruise will collect samples and observations in the DEEP-C benthic array of sites. Leg I will depart St Petersburg 08:00 22 Sept 2012, change personnel in Panama City at 08:00 on 30 Sept. Leg 2 will return to Panama City at 08:00 7 October. Equipment requested from FIO: CTD-Rosette, 12kHz depth profiling display, 50x50cm box-core (back-up). Equipment requested from USF: 8-barrel multicore and core-processing equipment (Hollander), USBL system (Locker), chest freezer. Equipment provided by FSU: MILET photo platform. Leg 1 will prioritize photo survey of all sites with selected multicore collections at the shallow (< 1000m sites). Leg 2 will prioritize multicore and water sample collections with no scheduled seafloor imaging. This dataset contains the data from the CTD casts for this cruise.

This dataset contains CTD, water quality, plankton species abundance, quantitative phytoplankton profiles, and chlorophyll a and b concentrations in sediment samples data collected from R/V Bellows cruise BE-1212 in the northern Gulf of Mexico from 2011-05-21 to 2013-09-16. CTD data were collected from 26 sites from 2012-05-05 to 2012-05-07. In addition, water samples were collected and analyzed for nutrient concentrations at the Wetlands Research Laboratory at the University of West Florida. Quantitative nanoplankton census data were taken via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to determine after-the-fact, the effects of the Macondo Oil Spill on skeletal (coccolith)-bearing phytoplankton. Plankton samples were collected from 14 offshore shelf sites from 2012-05-05 to 2012-05-07 and abundances were recorded as counts and as percentages of the total sample. Quantitative phytoplankton profiles were taken specifically at station P7, and these data includes the depth, the volume filtered, the number of cells of each taxon counted, the calculated abundance of each taxon in cells per liter, and micrographs taken during the analysis. For this, one-liter samples were collected from the surface and at different depths using Niskin bottles. Samples were filtered onto a 0.45 micrometer nitrocellulose filter and air-dried. A portion of each filter was mounted on an aluminum stub, sputter-coated, and examined with a JEOL JSM-6480 LV scanning electron microscope. Diatoms, coccolithophores, and armored dinoflagellates were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic category. The number of cells of each taxon in a field of view at a magnification of 1000x was recorded, with up to 700 fields-of-view examined, depending on the density of phytoplankton in the sample. Similarly, sediment samples were collected using replicate Shipek sediment grabs from 28 samples sites between 2011-05-21 and 2013-09-16. Sediment was frozen in the field for transfer to the laboratory. Once in the laboratory, samples were acetone extracted and fluorescence was determined on a Perkin Elmer scanning fluorometer. Standard chlorophyll preparations were used for sample quantification.

This dataset reports in-situ measurements of bottom water characteristics collected during R/V Bellows cruise BE-1323 in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico on June 08, 2013. The measurements were collected with the Aanderaa Seaguard and YSI probes deployed at the sea floor at station P1 (30.25N, 87.25W). The data includes system parameters (battery voltage, memory used, interval), conductivity, temperature, depth, turbidity, pressure, tide pressure, tide level, significant wave height, maximum wave height, oxygen saturation and concentration, salinity, pH, absolute current speed and direction, colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) and chlorophyll-a data.

CTD Data from the cruise BE-1415 on May 2014. The cruise will be sampling to document any residual hydrocarbons from the BP MC252 well eruption and provide time series hydrographic, water chemistry, sediment, and plankton data as a baseline and to document the physical and biological seasonal dynamics for the offshore shelf of the Florida Panhandle Bight at the head of DeSoto Canyon.

This dataset contains CTD, plankton species relative abundance, and quantitative phytoplankton profiles data collected from 9 sites off the Florida Panhandle at the head of DeSoto Canyon, Gulf of Mexico aboard the R/V Bellows cruise BE-1307 from 2012-10-13 to 2012-10-15. Plankton samples were collected using a net with mesh size of 25 micrometer and 0.5m diameter. Plankton abundance data reports the location, date, time, and length of tow for each sample. Plankton species are categorized as Ceratium spp., Dinophysis spp., other dinoflagellates, Chaetoceros spp., Rhizosolenia/Guinardia, Eucampia/Hemiaulus, other chain-forming diatoms, Thalassionema spp., Nitzschioid diatoms, other diatoms, Cyanobacteria (Trichodesmium spp.), and Zooplankton. Abundances were recorded as individual counts as well as percentages of total sample. Diatoms and dinoflagellates were counted as cells, cyanobacteria as colonies/filaments, zooplankton as individuals. Quantitative phytoplankton profiles were taken specifically at 5 sites (P1, P3, P5, P7, D1) along the Pensacola transect. For this, one-liter samples were collected from the surface and at different depths using Niskin bottles. Samples were filtered onto a 0.45 micrometer nitrocellulose filter and air-dried. A portion of each filter was mounted on an aluminum stub, sputter-coated, and examined with a JEOL JSM-6480 LV scanning electron microscope. Diatoms, coccolithophores, and armored dinoflagellates were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic category. The number of cells of each taxon in a field of view at a magnification of 1000x was recorded, with up to 700 fields-of-view examined, depending on the density of phytoplankton in the sample. The dataset includes the depth, the volume filtered, the number of cells of each taxon counted, and the calculated abundance of each taxon in cells per liter. Micrographs taken during the analysis are included.

In 2002 and 2003, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center (WHCMSC), in cooperation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), conducted three exploration cruises (USGS Cruise 02051, NOAA RB0208, September 24 to 30, 2002; USGS Cruise 03008, NOAA RB0303, February 18 to March 7, 2003 and USGS Cruise 03032, NOAA RB0305, August 28 to September 4, 2003). These cruises mapped for the first time the morphology of this entire tectonic plate boundary stretching from the Dominican Republic in the west to the Lesser Antilles in the east, a distance of approximately 700 kilometers (430 miles). Observations from these three exploration cruises, coupled with computer modeling and published Global Positioning System (GPS) results and earthquake focal mechanisms have provided new information that is changing the evaluation of the seismic and tsunami hazard from this plate boundary. The observations collected during these cruises also contributed to the basic understanding of the mechanisms that govern plate tectonics, in this case, the creation of the island of Puerto Rico and the deep trench north of it. Results of the sea floor mapping have been an important component of the study of tsunami and earthquake hazards to the northeastern Caribbean and the U.S. Atlantic coast off the United States. For additional information on the cruises see: http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2002-051-FA http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2002-051-FA http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2002-051-FA