INTEGRATING WIND DATA TO DETERMINE THE INFLUENCE ON MOVEMENT OF A HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM EVENT ALONG THE NORTHWEST COAST OF FLORIDA

摘要

Environmental satellite remote sensing data have been an important source of information for coastal researchers and managers to evaluate issues with large spatial scales. Blooms of the toxic dinoflagellate, Gymnodinium breve, are hypothesized to begin in offshore areas of the Gulf of Mexico and move inshore where they impact shellfish harvesting areas and create human health problems. To investigate the influence of surface winds on the movement of the phytoplankton bloom, the progress of a toxic event in the autumn of 1999 is being analyzed. The water mass containing the bloom can be tracked using satellite ocean color imagery from the NASA/Orblmage Sea-viewing Wide Field of view Sensor supported by ground-truth measurements of cell concentration. Wind data from buoys and satellite are being integrated to determine the degree that strength and duration affect water mass movement. At present, it is likely that at least two wind events have affected movement of the bloom to the west and to the north. These data are integrated within a geographic information system (GIS) for retrospective evaluation and to allow for routine integration of satellite remote sensing environmental products.