Harmful Algal Blooms Integrated Observing System

HABIOS Vision Statement

To establish a sustained observing system as part of the U.S. IOOS (Integrated Ocean Observing System) that will facilitate and enhance efforts to monitor, manage, and reduce detrimental effects of harmful algal blooms (HABs) on human health and living marine resources (non-human animals and plants) and to mitigate impacts of HABs on coastal communities.

WQ-1: Improve harmful algal bloom detection and forecasting in the U.S. and Mexican Gulf States . . . . . for the advanced detection and forecasting of red tide (Karenia brevis) and for notifying public health managers.

HABIOS Workshop I, New Orleans, 14-16 Nov 2007

Develop a HABIOS Plan for the Gulf of MexicoCo-chairs: Worth Nowlin GCOOS, Bart Bibler GOMA

Objectives identified, some resources identified, basically outlined a strategy, insufficient detail for implementation

(1)Identify stakeholder (user) groups and their needs and preferred delivery systems.(2) Identify areas where HABs are most likely to occur and monitor them on time and space scales needed for rapid detection and response.(3) Integrate relevant data in consistent and understandable products and formats.(4) Provide for timely archival of and easy access to available data.(5) Track in real time and provide timely forecasts.(6) Distribute the information in ways that are timely, meaningful, relevant, and readily accessible to the various management and public communities.(7) Monitor the effectiveness of the observing system.(8) Identify human health risks from HAB events, living marine resource risks.

HABIOS

Workshop II, St. Petersburg, 21-23 April 2009

Develop a HABIOS Plan for the Gulf of MexicoCo-chairs: Nancy Rabalais GCOOS, Steve Wolfe GOMA

Goal: GAP Analysis

1. Prediction• What capabilities now exist for prediction of the occurrence of HABs? • What improvements, if any, are likely in the foreseeable future? • What is needed to realize improvements? A plan should recognize needed research.

2. Detection• What lead times for HABs detection do managers need? Near shore and offshore?• What capabilities for detection now exist? In situ and satellite?

3. Forecasting• What is needed by the users of forecasts of HAB movements? (Lead times, accuracy of tracks, species, concentrations etc.)• What can be expected regarding lead times, accuracy, etc. of forecasts of HAB movements with current state of technology/methodology?• How can the feasible requirements be met? (What observations, models, etc are needed to meet user requirements given current limitations of technologies/methodologies?)

Harmful Algal Blooms Integrated Observing System

HABIOS

HABIOS

Workshop III, TBD

Goal: Implementation Plan

Input from the Alliance for Coastal Technology (ACT) co-sponsored a workshop on "Technologies and Methodologies for the Detection of Harmful Algae"

GOMA’s primary role in these workshops is to provide input on what the coastal managers need from a HABs monitoring system. 

Questions?