Background
Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) pose a threat to environmental and public health by producing toxins and consuming oxygen. Algal blooms have unique spectral signatures which enable detection by satellite remote sensing. Federal agencies seek a mechanism to identify anomalous algal blooms world-wide that may impact fisheries and other water resources. This information is important when blooms are the result of natural disasters for it may allow agencies to better plan their responses.
Status: In Development
This Satellite Needs Working Group (SNWG) solution will implement an automated algal bloom hotspot product based on satellite data from multiple ocean color platforms and instruments:
- Aqua: Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)
- Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP), Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS)-1,2: Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS)
- Sentinel-3: Ocean and Land Colour Instrument (OLCI)
- Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, and ocean Ecosystem (PACE)
- Commercial systems may also be considered
The product will be based on a merged chlorophyll product for coastal waters and large lakes. Monitoring will focus on regions distributed globally that are vulnerable to harmful algal blooms, but global monitoring will be available at a moderate resolution. A GABAN prototype is currently underway and expected to be available for user testing during 2027.
Solution Characteristics
| Platforms and Instruments | Aqua: MODIS |
|---|---|
| Suomi-NPP, JPSS-1/2: VIIRS | |
| Sentinel-3: OLCI | |
| PACE: Ocean Color Instrument (OCI) | |
| Output Variables | Chlorophyll concentration, presence of absence of a bloom |
| Processing Level | 3 and 4 |
| Temporal Coverage | Daily to weekly composites |
| Temporal Frequency | Daily |
| Latency | 1 day - 1 week |
| Spatial Coverage | Regional |
| Spatial Resolution | 1 km |
| Data Format | NetCDF-4 |
Societal Impact
HABs are a direct threat to environmental and public health. Mitigation and avoidance require information on the location and extent of algal blooms at high temporal resolution. This solution will show the presence of algal blooms in regions distributed globally that are vulnerable to harmful algal blooms.