Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) image of an algal bloom in the Potomac River during May 2000, from the NASA and USGS Landsat 4-5 Thematic Mapper (TM) satellites.
Authors: Conor Collins, Christopher Cochran, Vivian Tseng, Ashley Coffin, Kristen Pyne, Ron Norasak, Lorrin Massengill, Brenton Schroeder
Advisors/Science Mentors: Dr. Kenton Ross, Jamie Favors
Abstract: Harmful algal blooms (HABs) have become a significant problem: They not only pose a threat to fish and humans due to their often toxic nature, but they also are a threat to the ecosystems in which they exist. Humans have altered environmental processes through various actions. Destruction of wetlands and increased urbanization has resulted in increased eutrophication, contributing greatly to the growth of algal blooms. Coastal population is on the rise, yet these communities are especially susceptible to the effects of HABs. Negative impacts to the environment, human health, and the economy make it necessary to predict future bloom occurrences. Through specific studies of climate change and urban growth on the southeast coast of the U.S. over a 20- year period, we have constructed a monitoring and prediction model utilizing NASA Earth observations for future blooms in the Chesapeake Bay and Southern Florida.
Video transcript available here.