On April 20 2010, the Deepwater Horizon offshore oil drilling rig suffered an explosion and fire which caused the largest oil spill in United States history. From the very beginning NOAA was deeply involved in the response, and NESDIS satellite, ocean, climate and geodetic data were key to that effort. One year later, NOAA continues to support the cleanup and recovery of the Gulf region.
NOAA Scientist Remembers Deepwater Horizon
Rost Parsons, Ph.D. is the lead scientist at NOAA's National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC). Dr. Parsons is also a key member of the interagency Joint Analysis Group (JAG) for Surface and Sub-Surface Oceanography, Oil and Dispersant Data. Read Q & A...
Satellites Aided Response to Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
Last year, the Deepwater Horizon drilling platform explosion which gripped the world"s attention as it quickly became an environmental catastrophe of global proportions
Read the article...
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NESDIS Operations Respond in the Gulf
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Jennifer Belge, a physical scientist working at the World Weather Building discusses how NESDIS scientists analyze satellite data to monitor anamolies that may need to be reported to first-responders and the public.
Larger version and more videos at NESDIS Multimedia -
Satellite Analysis of Gulf Surface Oil Extents
Since April 23rd, 2101, NOAA's Satellite Analysis Branch has been using data from a variety of high resolution visible and synthetic aperture radar satellites from NOAA's partners in Earth observations to document the latest extent of the surface oil.
Larger version and more information at the NOAA Environmental Visualization Laboratory Website (NNVL)
Produced by the NOAA Environmental Visualization LaboratorySatellite Derived Surface Oil Analysis Products
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The Experimental Marine Pollution Surveillance Report (EMPSR) is produced by trained satellite analysts in the Satellite Analysis Branch (SAB), within the NOAA/NESDIS Office of Satellite Data Processing and Distribution. www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/MPS/deepwater.html
National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC) support for the Deepwater Horizon Event
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Archived Deepwater Horizon Data, Climatology Products, Ocean Currents Data, Satellite Data, Ocean Profile Data, Coastal Ecosystem Maps, Bilbliographical Collections, and Fisheries Information.
http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/General/DeepwaterHorizon/support.html Coastal Ecosystems Program-Gulf Coast
The Coastal Ecosystems Program- Gulf Coast is a GIS tool that allows for the visualization of data sets on bathymetry, managed species, essential fish habitat, oyster reef locations, National Wetlands Index, seagrasses, salinity, and the location of oil and gas, platforms and pipelines across the Gulf of Mexico.http://www.ncddc.noaa.gov/website/CHP/viewer.htm
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Research and Monitoring Activities Database
The Gulf of Mexico Sea Grant College Programs and NOAAs National Coastal Data Development Center developed an online database to house brief descriptions of oil-spill-related research, monitoring, and restoration activities.
http://igulf.noaa.gov/deepwater-horizon-oil-spill-research-and-monitoring-activities-databaseHistorical Gulf of Mexico Data and Information at NODC
Historical data sets in the Gulf of Mexico as well as an explanation of how to get Gulf data from larger databases such as Ocean Archive System(OAS) or World Ocean Atlas.(WOA) http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/General/gulfmex.html
NESDIS Satellite Analysis Branch uses MODIS and SAR imagery in support of response and mitigation efforts related to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico
This is AquaMODIS True Color image (April 29, 2010) at 250 meter resolution of the Mississippi Delta. Images such as these are useful in observing the possible extent of the oil spill that began April 20, 2010.
view high-resolution image (1435px X 855px )National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) provides Coastal Digital Elevation Models and Geophysical Data Archive to Support Deepwater Horizon (DWH) Response and Recovery.
NOAA's NGDC built 10-meter resolution, digital elevation models (DEMs) for New Orleans, LA; Biloxi, MS; Mobile, AL; Panama City, FL; and for the northern Gulf of Mexico.
Read more...NOAA Central Library Network:
Deepwater Horizon: A Preliminary Bibliography of Published Research and Expert Commentary
Resources on Oil Spills, Response, and Restoration: a Selected Bibliography
This document, also called Oil Spills Bibliography, has been prepared as an aid for those seeking information concerning the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico and information on previous spills and associated remedial actions. Various media products (web, video, printed and online documents) have been selected from resources available via the online NOAA Library and Information Network Catalog (NOAALINC)
The Bibliography is published online as Library and Information Services Division current references 2010-2 at:
National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC) Deepwater Horizon The Joint Analysis Group (JAG)
The goal of the JAG is to provide comprehensive characterization of the Gulf of Mexico sub-surface conditions as well as the fate and transport of dispersed petroleum as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
http://ecowatch.ncddc.noaa.gov/JAG/The Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO) Global Navy Coastal Ocean Model (G-NCOM)
The model covers the Gulf of Mexico at a grid resolution of approximately 1/8 degrees (14km/7.5nm). Output from this model includes temperature, salinity, currents, and surface elevation (tides) with forecasts to 72 hrs, updated daily. Forecast fields from this model in NetCDF format are delivered in real time to both the NOAA Tactical Operations Center (TOC) and the NOAA National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC) for distribution to NOAA and the public. The TOC sends the data to NOAA's Ocean Prediction Center (OPC) where they are served as data and graphics. The NCDDC serves the data on their Ecosystem Data Assembly Center (EDAC). Interested users can view G-NCOM images and download the NetCDF files at these sites:
