HR: 1400h
AN: OS23A-04    [Abstracts]
TI: Satellite Remote Sensing of Harmful Algal Blooms at the University of Miami Center for Oceans and Human Health
AU: * Minnett, P J
EM: pminnett@rsmas.miami.edu
AF: University of Miami, Meteorology and Physical Oceanography Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science University of Miami 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149, United States
AU: Carvalho, G
EM: gcarvalho@rsmas.miami.edu
AF: University of Miami, Meteorology and Physical Oceanography Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science University of Miami 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149, United States
AU: Baringer, W
EM: warner@miami.edu
AF: University of Miami, Meteorology and Physical Oceanography Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science University of Miami 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149, United States
AU: Banzon, V
EM: p.banzon@miami.edu
AF: University of Miami, Meteorology and Physical Oceanography Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science University of Miami 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149, United States
AB: As part of the NSF-NIEHS Center for Oceans and Human Health at the University of Miami, research is being conducted into the remote sensing of ocean color signatures associated with the occurrence of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). Data from the MODerate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) are down-linked at the University of Miami's Center for Southeastern Tropical Advanced Remote Sensing (CSTARS) and processed in near-real time to produce mapped fields of water leaving radiance in the ocean color bands, derived quantities including inherent optical properties (IOPs) of seawater, chlorophyll concentration, and sea-surface temperature. Images of these fields are available in near-real time on a web-server. The server also provides access to the data files themselves. One of the applications currently being researched using these data is the identification of HABs over the Central West Florida Shelf where blooms of the toxic dinoflagellate Karenia brevis have a nearly annual occurance. Since chlorophyll concentration alone cannot be used as a unique variable to determine algal taxonomy, other spectral features or optical properties must be brought into play to discriminate among different phytoplankton types. A published technique developed for SeaWiFS (Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor) to detect K. brevis (based on high concentration of chlorophyll and low particulate backscatter) was transitioned to measurements of Terra MODIS and replicated the results. These were confirmed by comparisons with in situ measurements. This technique is currently being applied to a multi-year time series of remote measurements from the Aqua MODIS and tested against ship-based data.
DE: 0496 Water quality
DE: 1871 Surface water quality
DE: 4217 Coastal processes
DE: 4275 Remote sensing and electromagnetic processes (0689, 2487, 3285, 4455, 6934)
DE: 4813 Ecological prediction
SC: Ocean Sciences [OS]
MN: 2007 Joint Assembly