Abstract:

This dataset contains data obtained aboard the R/V Point Sur cruise PS19_05 containing videos of sampling efforts of oil and sediments at and around the MegaPlume discharge vent at GC-600 in the Gulf of Mexico from 2018-09-01 to 2018-09-04. During a cruise to GC-600 (a natural oil seep in the Gulf of Mexico) in September 2018 aboard the RV Point Sur, the ROV Odysseus (Pelagic Research Services) was used to collect hydrocarbons discharging from the seabed. sediment cores were also collected from microbial mats near MegaPlume at GC-600 via the ROV. The ROV recorded continuous video of each dive (a total of 3 dives as Dive 2 was aborted during descent due to weather). Video feeds include a high-definition camera as supplied by the ROV team. The oil samples collected were later used in a series of destructive incubation experiments to investigate the release of radium isotopes to waters as a function of hydrocarbon degradation (DOI:10.7266/n7-nt0e-cx32). Sediment cores were sectioned and used to measure radium isotopes in porewaters to estimate vertical porefluid migration and discharge rates. The dataset contains the date, latitudes and longitudes of the sampling locations.

Suggested Citation:

Peterson, Richard. 2021. Data obtained aboard the R/V Point Sur cruise PS19_05 containing videos of sampling efforts of oil and sediments at and around the MegaPlume discharge vent at GC-600 in the Gulf of Mexico from 2018-09-01 to 2018-09-04. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/n7-1sxz-ny09

Purpose:

Video data was recorded to document the sampling efforts of oil and sediments at and around the MegaPlume discharge vent at GC-600. The oil samples collected were later used in a series of destructive incubation experiments to investigate the release of radium isotopes to waters as a function of hydrocarbon degradation. Sediment cores were sectioned and used to measure radium isotopes in porewaters to estimate vertical porefluid migration and discharge rates.

Data Parameters and Units:

The data feed shown on each dive video includes: Site name Dive # Date (mm-dd-yyyy) hh:mm:ss (GMT) Latitude (first 2 numbers are degrees, following numbers are decimal minutes N) Longitude (first 2 numbers are degrees, following numbers are decimal minutes W) Heading (degrees, where 0 is due N) Depth below the sea surface (m) The dates, latitude, and longitude of locations of sample collection are as follows- (ROV Dive #1- 9/1/2018, 27° 22.199'N, 90° 34.260' W); ROV Dive #3- 9/3/2018, 27° 22.199'N, 90° 34.260' W); ROV Dive #4- 9/4/2018, 27° 22.199'N, 90° 34.260' W) The dataset also includes the cruise documentation for the R/V Point Sur cruise PS19_05 led by chief scientist Dr. Richard Peterson.

Instruments:

Four separate cameras were recording continuously, so each unique time stamp has four separate files, one from each camera. Camera 4 was a high-definition forward-looking camera. Cameras 1-3 were standard definition cameras mounted forward-looking at different angles at the basket and sampling area.

Individual Files: