“If you look at various factors that you think should be important,” said Sugihara, “there are no correlations with red tides.” Then McGowan collected more data, and the apparent relationship vanished. For instance, his colleague John McGowan at the University of California, San Diego was once close to concluding that Southern California “red tides” were correlated with how temperature changed within the water column. But such correlations, Sugihara said, usually turn out to be “mirages” that disappear upon closer inspection. Scientists have typically sought simple correlations between algae levels and environmental variables such as ocean temperature or nutrients. “This conspicuous, mysterious … phenomenon takes place in front of one of the world’s premier oceanographic institutions, but we have had a fairly meager understanding of how these things occur,” said George Sugihara, an ecologist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego, referring to how these blooms often occur in the coastal waters in front of where he works. Combining a unique 27-year data set with mathematical techniques based on chaos theory, scientists have puzzled out key factors behind toxic algal blooms that ravage California’s southern coast - and have proposed a way to predict these “red tides” much further in advance.Īdvance warning of such impacts would be “incredibly valuable,” said Richard Stumpf, an oceanographer at the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration in Silver Spring, Maryland.īiologists have studied harmful algal blooms for decades, but have yet to produce a reliable forecast for more than a day or two out.
RED TIDE GRAPH CRACK
Now a crack may have opened in this longstanding oceanic conundrum. A report of conditions and additional information appears on the Gulf of Mexico Harmful Algal Blooms Forecast Web site.ĭocuments about red tide and other programs are available for download.(Inside Science) - It’s a mystery from the deep: Seemingly without warning, explosions of reddish-brown algae take over coastal waters, choking water pipes and poisoning fish, and sometimes people. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) uses satellite imagery, field observations, and buoy data to assess harmful algal blooms in the Gulf of Mexico. Robert Weisberg, provides information regarding real-time surface meteorology, currents, and sea level from an array of buoys and coastal stations. The Coastal Ocean Monitoring and Prediction System, maintained by USF's Dr. Robert Weisberg, provides a HAB tracking tool that displays modeled bloom trajectories on the west coast of Florida, forecasted over the upcoming 4 days. The Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides, maintained by USF's Dr. The center is a cooperative venture with the FWC. Mote Marine Laboratory's Beach Conditions Report provides up-to-date information about the effects of red tide on Florida Gulf Coast beaches, including reports of dead fish, respiratory irritation among beachgoers, water color, and wind direction. The site also provides information on red drift algae and rip currents.Īt the University of South Florida (USF) College of Marine Science, the Center for Prediction of Red Tides uses forecast models to track and predict harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the southeastern United States and reports current conditions. This joint research program that includes red tide monitoring, research and public outreach and education has resulted in better tools and ongoing monitoring for red tides along the Gulf Coast. This cooperative effort is designed to help mitigate the adverse impacts of red tide. Florida Youth Conservation Centers NetworkįWC's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute and Mote Marine Laboratory work together to monitor Karenia brevis.Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail.Report injured, orphaned or dead manatees.Report fish kills, wildlife emergencies, sightings, etc.
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