News and Features by Research Area or Topic
Posted on January 23rd, 2013 in Forecasting, Harmful Algal Blooms, Monitoring & Event Response, Sensor Development
A recently published research paper describes the minimum requirements for an effective harmful algal bloom (HAB) observing system for the U.S. west coast to mitigate HAB impacts. HAB observing systems provide early warning and forecasting of HAB events to guide decisions to close shellfish harvesting to protect human health, avoid mortality of protected species, and encourage aquaculture [...]
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Posted on October 23rd, 2012 in Ecology & Oceanography, Harmful Algal Blooms, Sensor Development
Researchers finally identified the main toxic compounds produced by Prymnesium parvum, also known as “golden tide.” A fish-killing algae, this organism had historically affected aquaculture and marine systems worldwide, but now also frequently plagues popular fishing spots in the western United States, such as in Arizona last month. Identifying these toxins as well as their primary mode of [...]
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Posted on October 17th, 2012 in Harmful Algal Blooms, International, Outreach, Phytoplankton Monitoring Network, Rapid Response, Sensor Development, Technology Transfer
As part of a formal agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency, two researchers from the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science visited Muscat, Oman this week as “IAEA Experts.” The seminar provided the 15 participants with an overview of algae and toxin sampling techniques and visual identification of algae species. Next March, the Americans return [...]
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Posted on May 7th, 2012 in Forecasting, Harmful Algal Blooms, Human Health, News Clips, Sensor Development, Technology Transfer
Bruce Keafer calls it a robot in a box. Roughly the size of a kitchen sink, it was lowered into the waters off Portsmouth, N.H., last week, where it will sample marine organisms to measure toxic red tide cells over the next 45 days. The device, he hopes, will be a tool for forecasting outbreaks [...]
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Posted on May 3rd, 2012 in Accomplishments, Forecasting, Harmful Algal Blooms, Human Health, Sensor Development, Sponsored Research, Technology Transfer
During the week of April 26, researchers funded by the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science deployed a sensor that detects cells of the species of algae responsible for toxic red tides in the Gulf of Maine. The device relays its data back to scientists on land to enable state agencies decide whether or not [...]
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Posted on March 14th, 2012 in Harmful Algal Blooms, Monitoring, Sensor Development
An autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV)-based HAB sensor currently under development is being targeted for integration within the rapidly emerging IOOS infrastructure. This sensor will provide data to forecasting models, enabling more accurate prediction of HABs and mitigation of their effects on humans, wildlife, and ecosystems. Transitioning HAB detection technology currently used on the stationary autonomous, [...]
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Posted on September 16th, 2011 in Harmful Algal Blooms, International, News Clips, Sensor Development, Technology Transfer
They are the seas’ silent killers, toxin-laden patches of algae that amass along coastal shores and wreck havoc on marine ecosystems. They appear with no warning and outbreaks have become more frequent. Virtually every coastal country in the world has suffered from their effects. These are harmful algal blooms (HABs), more commonly known as “red [...]
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Posted on December 21st, 2010 in Accomplishments, Harmful Algal Blooms, Sensor Development, Technology Transfer
On December 15, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) signed an agreement to use a NOAA-developed technology which harnesses isotopes to assure algal toxins are below regulatory limits. The agreement formalizes a decade of collaboration with NOAA for regional studies in Asian, African and Latin American member states. Blooms of certain algae can release toxins detrimental [...]
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