Various noxious and toxic algal blooms afflict the Chesapeake Bay, posing threats to human health and natural resources. Knowing where and when to expect these biotic nuisances may help mitigate their effects.
The goal of this regional study is to predict the likelihood of blooms of several harmful algal bloom (HAB) species in Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries. Our first target species is the dinoflagellate Karlodinium veneficum. K. veneficum is seasonally abundant and has contributed to several fish kills in the bay.
Maps of the relative abundance of K.veneficum and cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa, and the likelihood of blooms of the dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum in the bay are routinely generated using data derived from hydrodynamic and biogeochemical computer models. The latest available map is provided below.
These near-real-time maps of relative abundance of K.veneficum, Prorocentrum minimum and Microcystis aeruginosa are experimental and should be considered provisional. The accuracy of these maps is currently under evaluation.
