Integrated Ocean Observing System in Support of Forecasting Harmful Algal Blooms

Abstract

Harmful algal bloom (HAB) events threaten human health, living marine resources, and ecosystem health. Their occurrence has increased in frequency, duration, and severity over the last several decades. Preventing, controlling, or mitigating the impacts of HABs requires the development of permanent, operational ocean observing systems that continuously provide the data and information necessary for rapid detection and timely forecasts of changes in ecosystem states. Key elements of such observing systems are observations and modeling that must be efficiently linked via data management and communication networks. Building the observing system begins by integrating existing assets, is followed by incorporation of new technologies and knowledge, and is guided by the data and information needs of decision makers. User needs are particularly important for development of operational forecast models and new sensors for measuring required biological (e.g., HAB species abundance) and chemical (e.g., concentrations of HAB toxins) variables in near real time. This article describes operational observing system requirements for a HAB forecasting system and current efforts by Regional Associations to develop these observing systems for targeted species in their respective regions.

Remote sampling of harmful algal blooms: A case study on the Washington State coast

“…Local, tribal, state, and federal government agencies charged with protecting the public health require information that will allow them to make good decisions regarding shellfish harvest closures and openings, resulting in timely public health advisories and alerts for near shore coastal dwellers, hotel owners, beach goers, shellfish harvesters, and boaters. Of the four elements deemed necessary for an operational observing system for HABs, in situ instrumentation (moored sensor arrays) is needed to alert managers to the presence of HABs (Jochens et al, 2010). However, it is noted that existing networks currently are not fully developed to detect biological parameters, including harmful algal species and toxins.…”

Harmful dinoflagellate blooms caused by Cochlodinium sp.: Global expansion and ecological strategies facilitating bloom formation

“…These specialized products overcome limitations inherent to standard (''global'') products which often mask red tides as ''bad'' data but are limited to high biomass surface blooms, providing little or no information about bloom initiation or high cell concentrations below the first optical depth (approximately the upper third of the euphotic zone). Thus while remote sensing methods are extremely useful for identifying and tracking blooms, an integrated ocean observing system combining multiple detection and tracking methods is still required for both monitoring and research purposes (Jochens et al, 2010).…”

Hindcasts of potential harmful algal bloom transport pathways on the Pacific Northwest coast

“…Some of the newest, most promising methods for HAB management include improved detection/monitoring of cells and modeling; including conceptual, empirical, and numerical models [ Anderson et al ., ]. The future of HAB forecasting likely lies in the combined efforts of in situ monitoring linked efficiently with sophisticated data assimilative models along with clear information dissemination [ Jochens et al ., ; Franks , ].…”