Near-surface water column LIDAR data collected aboard the R/V Pelican cruises PE16-19A and PE16-19B in the northern Gulf of Mexico from 2016-03-29 to 2016-04-12

This dataset present bio-optical properties data of the near-surface water column collected using a shipboard cross-linear polarized Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) system operated off the bow of the R/V Pelican cruises PE16-19A and PE16-19B in the northern Gulf of Mexico from 2016-03-29 to 2016-04-12. The LIDAR system measured the near-surface optical cross-linear polarized backscatter. Along-track mapping of the LIDAR was used to characterize the spatial scales of the plumes and sub-surface layers created by particles. The LIDAR operates at a wavelength of 532 nm and penetrates to a depth that is typically between 25 - 40 m, depending on water turbidity. The LIDAR system used was known as the shipboard LIDAR optical profiler (SLOP). The data was collected during the Spring CONCORDE field campaign aboard the R/V Pelican, which was divided in two cruises (PE16-19A and PE16-19B) led by chief scientists Dr. Stephan Howden and Dr. James Moum. Additional information for these cruises can be found in the R2R repository links: https://www.rvdata.us/search/cruise/PE16-19A and https://www.rvdata.us/search/cruise/PE16-19B.