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Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

NOAA RESTORE Science Program: Protecting Texas Coastlines from Potential Oil Spills in Galveston Bay using unmanned aerial system (UAS) Surveys and Maps of a New Response Effectiveness Index: measurements of near-surface currents in Galveston Bay and Freeport, Texas 2023 to 2028

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The dataset includes UAS drone surveys of the ocean surface with corresponding measurements of near-surface ocean currents. Additionally, the following associated data are included: UTM coordinates, Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) measurements of ocean currents within the water column, CTD measurements of temperature and salinity across the water column. The data was collected at Galveston Bay (entrance channel and across the Houston ship channel inside the bay) and Freeport, Texas. This dataset will be collected over 3 initial field-testing periods followed by quarterly surveys and oil spill event-based response surveys. The UAS surveys are stored as .MOV video files and still images (JPG), and the accompanying txt files containing the processed near-surface ocean currents data. Please note that still image files will not be available for every survey. The ADCP measurements are stored as txt files, for each of the east(u), north(v) and vertical(w) components of velocity, along with the magnitude and direction. The temperature and salinity profiles are stored as CSV files. GPS data of the boat location from which some UAS surveys are conducted is stored as csv files.
  • Cite as: Bheeroo, Vivek (2025). NOAA RESTORE Science Program: Protecting Texas Coastlines from Potential Oil Spills in Galveston Bay using unmanned aerial system (UAS) Surveys and Maps of a New Response Effectiveness Index: measurements of near-surface currents in Galveston Bay and Freeport, Texas 2023 to 2028. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/NCCOS-RESTORE-Surface_Currents_Texas. Accessed [date].
gov.noaa.nodc:NCCOS-RESTORE-Surface_Currents_Texas
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Search Data
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Distribution Formats
  • MOV
  • JPEG
  • Text
  • CSV
Ordering Instructions Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions.
Distributor NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
+1-301-713-3277
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Time Period 2023-12-09 to Present
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -95.328672
East: -94.493379
South: 28.881278
North: 29.581263
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2025-04-29
  • revision: 2025-07-24
Data Presentation Form Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status Ongoing - data is continually being updated
Historical archive - data has been stored in an offline storage facility
Data Update Frequency As needed
Supplemental Information
Methods: Measurements of near-surface ocean currents are obtained by processing footage of the ocean surface acquired from the UAS using an algorithm called CopterCurrents (Streßer et al., 2017). The ADCP measurements were collected by securing a downward facing ADCP to a horizontal pole that was mounted to the vessel. Temperature and salinity profiles were captured by lowering a CTD instrument into the water.
Purpose The purpose of the dataset is to provide measurements of near-surface ocean currents in Galveston Bay and Freeport for insights into the dynamics of these currents. The ADCP measurements complement these surface measurements with insights into the interior flow behavior. The temperature and salinity profiles provide an understanding of the stratification across the water column in the Houston ship channel. The project findings will be used in response to future oil spills.
Use Limitations
  • accessLevel: Public
  • Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: Bheeroo, Vivek (2025). NOAA RESTORE Science Program: Protecting Texas Coastlines from Potential Oil Spills in Galveston Bay using unmanned aerial system (UAS) Surveys and Maps of a New Response Effectiveness Index: measurements of near-surface currents in Galveston Bay and Freeport, Texas 2023 to 2028. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/NCCOS-RESTORE-Surface_Currents_Texas. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors
Principal Investigators
Collaborators
Contributors
Resource Providers
Points of Contact
Publishers
Acknowledgments
  • The data in this accession were funded by the NOAA RESTORE Science Program under award NA23NOS4510309 to Texas A&M University.
  • Funding Agency: NOAA RESTORE Science Program
  • NCCOS Partner: Texas General Land Office
Theme keywords NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS WMO_CategoryCode
  • oceanography
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords NCCOS Research Data Type
  • Field Observation
NCCOS Research Topic
  • Oil Spill Response/Recovery
Provider Keywords
  • ADCP measurements of ocean currents
  • CTD profiles of temperature and salinity
  • Dominant waves
  • Drone Video
  • GPS data of boat position
  • Ocean Surface Currents
  • Ocean waves
  • Proper Orthogonal Decomposition
  • UAS surveys
  • UAS-processed data of dominant wave properties
  • UAS-processed data of near-surface currents
  • Unmanned Aerial System
Data Center keywords NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
Platform keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords Provider Platform Names
  • Texas General Land Office vessel
  • Unmanned aerial system- DJI Mavic 2 Pro
Instrument keywords NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords Provider Instruments
  • ADCP Workhorse sentinel
  • CTD Hydrolab DS 5
  • Garmin GPS 19x NMEA 2000
Place keywords NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords NCCOS Research Location
  • Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico)
  • Region > Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico)
  • Texas
Provider Place Names
  • Brazos River
  • Freeport, Texas
  • Galveston Bay entrance channel
  • Galveston Bay, Texas
  • Galveston Bay, Texas (Gal_entrance_channel)
  • Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico)
  • Houston ship channel, Texas (Houston-ship-channel)
Project keywords Provider Project Names
  • RESTORE Project, Protecting Texas coastlines from potential oil spills in Galveston Bay using drone surveys and maps of a new response effectiveness index
  • US DOC; NOAA; NOS; National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS); (RESTORE Science Program (ROR - https://ror.org/0042xzm63)
Keywords NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER
Keywords Send2NCEI Submission Package ID
  • 0EJGCT
  • BDX8F6
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Bheeroo, Vivek (2025). NOAA RESTORE Science Program: Protecting Texas Coastlines from Potential Oil Spills in Galveston Bay using unmanned aerial system (UAS) Surveys and Maps of a New Response Effectiveness Index: measurements of near-surface currents in Galveston Bay and Freeport, Texas 2023 to 2028. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/NCCOS-RESTORE-Surface_Currents_Texas. Accessed [date].
Data License
Access Constraints
  • Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
Fees
  • In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.
Lineage information for: series
Processing Steps
  • 2025-04-29T14:57:23Z - NCEI Accession 0303466 v1.1 was published.
  • 2025-07-24T19:07:44Z - NCEI Accession 0306218 v1.1 was published.
Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument
  • ADCP
  • CTD
  • GPS
  • video camera
Last Modified: 2025-08-19T15:09:28Z
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