The Challenge

Marine planktonic algae, or phytoplankton, are essential elements of the marine environment, but some species are detrimental, forming harmful algal blooms (HABs). Toxic HAB species, such as the dinoflagellate Gymnodinium breve (G. breve), cause “red tides” that can harm fish and wildlife, cause illness in humans, and have a significant economic impact. Sampling HABs effectively is a difficult problem because of the large areas of ocean they may cover and the logistical costs of traditional sampling. Improved monitoring of HABs would increase understanding of the inception of HABs and the conditions that promote their growth. Rapid identification of HABs is essential for state managers to protect public health. Satellite imagery of ocean color has the potential to provide information on the distribution and abundance of HABs at high frequency and with suitable spatial and temporal resolution.

Remote Sensing Application

In partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Naval Research Laboratory, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Advanced Monitoring Initiative program sponsored a demonstration project to use satellite data from the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (Sea-WiFS) ocean color instrument to help detect outbreaks in the Gulf of Mexico of the potentially harmful G. breve from its optical signature. Regional SeaWiFS data on chlorophyll concentration have the potential to give an early warning of G. breve blooms. This program was designed to develop algorithms for using SeaWiFS data to monitor G. breve and to communicate the results to health officials charged with identifying health and safety issues related to changing environmental conditions.