The Conductivity, Temperature and Depth (CTD); and bathythermograph (XBT) data were collected as part of Distribution/Abundance of Marine Mammals in Gulf of Mexico (GULFCET I) funded by grant no MMS 14-35-0001-30619. The data was collected over two year period spanning from April 15, 1992 to December 12, 1993. Data from 239 casts of CTD and 566 XBT drops was submitted via internet by Dr. Giulietta Fargion of Texas A&M University, Galveston, TX.

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

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.

Oceanographic data from CTD casts from 01 May 1992 to 08 May 1992. Data were collected by Texas A&M University (TAMU) as part of the Texas-Louisiana Shelf Circulation and Transport Processes Study (LATEX PART A). Data are self documenting and parameters include temperature, pressure, oxygen concentration, transmissivity, potential temperature, sound velocity, fluorescence, irradiance (PAR), and backscatter.

The accession contains Benthic and Tissue toxin data from stations in U.S. coastal waters (Coastal Waters of Western U.S. and North American Coastline-North) collected under the National Status and Trends (NS&T) program from 1984-1989. NS&T program for marine environmental quality was designed to define the geographic distribution of contaminant concentrations in tissues of marine organisms and sediments, and documenting biological responses to contamination. Samples have been collected under the original Benthic Surveillance Project (sediment and tissue samples from benthic fish) since 1984. Samples have been collected under the Mussel Watch Project (sediment and bivalves) since 1986. Both programs involved collecting samples from fixed sites on both Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Sites were selected so as not to be in close proximity to a major contamination source, as the programs objective was to quantify contamination over general areas. Chemical data from sediments collected during the benthic surveillance project, 1984-1986, is contained in a single delimited ASCII file (bssed.txt). Additional contaminated sediment data from the mussel watch program, 1986-1989, is contained in a single delimited ASCII file (mwsed.txt). These data do not include tissue analysis for contaminants. Chemicals and related parameters measured in sediments include: DDT. Since 1986, NOAA'S NS&T Program has included a component called the mussel watch project that has annually collected and chemically analyzed mussels and oysters from 177 sites at coastal and estuarine sites. Tissue samples from these mollusks have been analyzed to establish temporal trends of contaminant accumulation. Contaminants analyzed during this project include: polyaromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, chlorinated pesticides (such as DDT and its metabolites), aluminum, iron, manganese, silicon, other trace elements, and lipids. Tissue contaminant data from the mussel watch project, years 1986-1989, is contained in a single wordperfect 4.2 file, mollto90.txt. A second file, tbt_90.txt, lists the sum of concentrations of tributyltin and its breakdown products (dibutyltin and monobutyltin) found in bivalve tissue samples. Tributyltin (TBT) was previously used as an antifouling agent in paints, but its use on vessels under 75 feet was banned in 1988. A third file, mwsiteyr.txt, lists collection sites.

The Conductivity, Temperature and Depth (CTD); and bathythermograph (XBT) data were collected as part of Distribution/Abundance of Marine Mammals in Gulf of Mexico (GULFCET I) funded by grant no MMS 14-35-0001-30619. The data was collected over two year period spanning from April 22, 1992 to June 21, 1994. Data from 345 casts of CTD and 244 XBT drops was submitted via internet by Dr. Giulietta Fargion of Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.

Benthic organisms and marine toxic substances and pollutants were collected using net casts, sediment sampler, and other instruments from the GYRE and other platforms in NW Atlantic Ocean. Data were collected from 11 November 1983 to 30 July 1986. Data were submitted by Battelle Marine Research Laboratory in New England with support from the New England Shelf and Slope Program. Data has been processed by NODC to the NODC standard F132- Benthic Organisms and F144- Marine Toxic Substances and Pollutants formats. The F132 format 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 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 Conductivity, Temperature and Depth (CTD) and Water Depth and Temperature Bathythermograph (XBT) data were collected in Gulf of Mexico as part of Texas Institutions Gulf Ecosystem Research (TIGER) project funded by grant no MMS # 14-35-0001-30501. Data was collected from Ship GYRE cruises 92G09, 92G10 and 92G13. The data was collected over a period spanning from September 26, 1992 to October 31, 1992. Data was submitted in two diskettes by Dr. Douglas C. Biggs, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX. The originator's data containing 32 CTD observations; 52 stations and 12,860 records has been processed. CTD data is available in F022-CTD-Hi Resolution file format of NODC. The originator's bathythermograph (XBT) data has been converted and are now available on line in C116 (XBT) file format of NODC. The F022 format contains high-resolution data collected using CTD (conductivity-temperature-depth) and STD (salinity-temperature-depth) instruments. As they are lowered and raised in the oceans, these electronic devices provide nearly continuous profiles of temperature, salinity, and other parameters. Data values may be subject to averaging or filtering or obtained by interpolation and may be reported at depth intervals as fine as 1m. Cruise and instrument information, position, date, time and sampling interval are reported for each station. Environmental data at the time of the cast (meteorological and sea surface conditions) may also be reported. The data record comprises values of temperature, salinity or conductivity, density (computed sigma-t), and possibly dissolved oxygen or transmissivity at specified depth or pressure levels. Data may be reported at either equally or unequally spaced depth or pressure intervals. A text record is available for comments. The C116/C118 format contains temperature-depth profile data obtained using expendable bathythermograph (XBT) instruments. Cruise information, position, date and time were reported for each observation. The data record was comprised of pairs of temperature-depth values. Unlike the MBT Data File, in which temperature values were recorded at uniform 5 m intervals, the XBT data files contained temperature values at non-uniform depths. These depths were recorded at the minimum number of points ("inflection points") required to accurately define the temperature curve. Standard XBTs can obtain profiles to depths of either 450 or 760 m. With special instruments, measurements can be obtained to 1830 m. Prior to July 1994, XBT data were routinely processed to one of these standard types. XBT data are now processed and loaded directly in to the NODC Ocean Profile Data Base (OPDB). Historic data from these two data types were loaded into the OPDB.

Conductivity Temperature and Depth (CTD) measurements were collected aboard R/V Endeavor 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 R/V Endeavor, Cruise 01. The final product is a series of NetCDF files containing every CTD cast that has been processed and quality checked.