News and Features by Research Area or Topic
Posted on February 14th, 2013 in Forecasting, Harmful Algal Blooms, Human Health, Outreach, Technology Transfer
As part of a pilot initiative known as “beach hazard statements,” NOAA’s National Weather Service in Tampa Bay began to issue red tide warnings to beachgoers in an area where a bloom of algae is responsible for causing fish kills and breathing problems in people. While the announcement is new, the forecasts themselves are well [...]
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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 December 20th, 2012 in Chemical Contaminants, Coastal Pollution, Forecasting, Harmful Algal Blooms, News Clips
Back in July, scientists from the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) issued the first-ever seasonal harmful algal bloom (HAB) forecast for western Lake Erie at a press event at Ohio State University’s Stone Laboratory. Now, with the 2012 HABs season over, Dr. Jeff Reutter reflects on the successful prediction and looks ahead [...]
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Posted on December 11th, 2012 in Coastal Pollution, Ecological Forecasts & Tools, Forecasting, Harmful Algal Blooms, Human Health
On Nov 19, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) researchers met with local partners working on restoring Lake Erie’s ecosystem to review the unusual 2012 algal blooms, and assess the 2012 bloom forecast. This year there were unusual blooms along the center of the lake, both in late winter and in early summer. The [...]
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Posted on October 16th, 2012 in Ecology & Oceanography, Forecasting, Harmful Algal Blooms, Human Health, Other Topics
Dr. Tyler Smith, a scientist with the University of the Virgin Islands Center for Marine and Environmental Studies in St. Thomas, was recently awarded a NOAA grant to study to understand factors influencing the occurrence of ciguatera fish poisoning and develop methods to predict outbreaks. Dr. Smith is partnering with colleagues from around the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and Florida [...]
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Posted on October 12th, 2012 in Ecology & Oceanography, Forecasting, Harmful Algal Blooms
A recently published study into how Heterosigma rapidly forms blooms discovered a remarkable behavior: they flee. This fish-killing species of microscopic plant swims away when it senses single-celled predators are feeding on others nearby. In response, they take “shelter” in low salinity water layers which the predators find intolerable. The investigators said they had never seen a plant swim [...]
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Posted on September 24th, 2012 in Changing Temperature & Hydrology, Climate Impacts, Ecology & Oceanography, Forecasting, Ocean Acidification
A research paper published this week reveals that large die-offs of algae locally magnify ocean acidification. As the cells die and sinks to the bottom, the bacteria population that feeds on them swells in response, consuming more oxygen and releasing more carbon dioxide (CO2). The CO2 reacts in seawater to form acidic compounds that lower [...]
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Posted on August 29th, 2012 in Forecasting, Harmful Algal Blooms, Outreach
At a gathering designed to put NOAA’s suite of red tide forecasts in the hands of more Floridians, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science’s harmful algae experts and their partners explored avenues to strengthen partner collaboration, gather feedback, identify improvements, consider potential users, and determine requirements for new developments. The Florida officials seemed genuinely excited [...]
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