Oceanographic Data collected during the Florida Shelf Edge Expedition (FLoSEE) (CIOERT2010) on RV Seward Johnson in the Gulf of Mexico and North Atlantic Ocean between July 9, 2010 - August 9, 2010 (NCEI Accession 0074541)

A science team on the research vessel Seward Johnson left from Fort Pierce, Fla. in early July to go to the eastern Gulf of Mexico. The researchers used a submersible, a remotely operated vehicle and other technology to assess and record conditions in the water column and on the seafloor to gather baseline data along Florida's shelf edge. The expedition, which scientists have named FLoSEE (Florida Shelf Edge Exploration), is providing a better understanding of the spill's actual and potential environmental effects. Researchers are observing corals and other bottom-dwelling species to establish benchmarks for measuring change that may result from the oil and chemicals used to manage the spill. The team will also assess water quality and the abundance and diversity of life from tiny plankton to the larger species that depend on corals for survival.