gregory a. carter and dan holiday the university of southern mississippi

Using MODIS Aqua, SeaWiFS and In Situ Data for the Assessment of Harmful Algal Blooms in the Northern Gulf of Mexico

Gregory A. Carter and Dan HolidayThe University of Southern Mississippi

Gulf Coast Geospatial Center

Carlos Del Castillo and Raymond E. Sterner IIThe Johns Hopkins University

Applied Physics Laboratory

Kent Ross and Lee EstepSSAI

Project Briefing to the NASA Applied Sciences Program, SSC, June 3, 2009

Primary Question: What is the efficacy of satellite Ocean Color and Sea Surface Temperature (SST) data in monitoring phytoplankton populations in the turbid, Case II waters of the Northern Gulf?

Goal: Evaluate the use of MODIS and SeaWiFS Ocean Color data and MODIS SST data for assessing phytoplankton populations in the Northern Gulf of Mexico.

Tasks:

1. Determine taxonomic composition of phytoplankton communities

2. Determine primary environmental factors controlling phytoplankton populations

3. Acquire MODIS and SeaWiFS data corresponding with in situ sampling dates

4. Apply Ocean Color algorithms5. Determine relationships of Ocean Color and SST data

products with phytoplankton population data6. Compare MODIS vs. SeaWiFS utility7. Derive conclusions regarding the efficacy of Ocean Color and

SST data as indicators of phytoplankton composition in Case II waters

8. Prepare and submit final report to NASA9. Publish results in the peer-reviewed literature

HAB species detected in MS waters

• Pseudo-nitzschia spp. (Amnesic SP)

• Karenia brevis (Neurotoxic SP)

• Karenia mikimotoi (NSP)

• Gymnodinium sanguineum (Paralytic SP)

• Dinophysis caudata (Diarrhetic SP)

• Prorocentrum (5 Species) (DSP)

• Karlodinium spp. (Karlotoxins, fish kills)

• Heterocapsa triquetra (Hypoxic, Jubilee)

Phyla – 13Genera – 105

05.18.2005MODIS 1km data

Accuracy: 72%

400 450 500 550 600 650 7000

0.002

0.004

0.006

0.008

0.01

0.012

0.014

Station O5, MODIS and SeaWiFS

O5

MODIS Rrs

SeaWiFS Rrs

Wavelength (nm)

Rrs (

1/sr

)

400 450 500 550 600 650 7000

0.002

0.004

0.006

0.008

0.01

0.012

0.014

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

O5

Modis Rrs

%diff

Wavelength (nm)

Rrs

(1/s

r)

% d

iff

400 450 500 550 600 650 7000

0.002

0.004

0.006

0.008

0.01

0.012

0.014

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100O5

SeaWiFS Rrs

%diff

Wavelength (nm)

Rrs

(1/s

r)

% d

iff

HyMap (3 m hyperspectral)

VIIRS simulated (750 m)

Remaining Tasks:

1. Form conclusions2. Submit final report3. Publish results