The American way of forecasting, detecting and measuring red tide toxins

Due to the ability to kill marine life and threaten human health of red tide, American scientists have focused on monitoring as well as early detection of toxic algae blooms.

According to the National Ocean Service, discovering the red tide and measuring the level of toxicity of this phenomenon is a complicated task. While traditional methods are time-consuming and require specialized laboratories, researchers at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are developing faster, cheaper ways. and more efficient to detect and monitor the explosion of algae and their toxins.

Red tide can cause marine organisms to die massively by toxins and lack of oxygen.(Artwork: CFP).

In 2015, NOAA cooperated with the US Aeronautics Agency (NASA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Geological Survey (USGS) to convert satellite data designed to explore organisms. The sea into information helps protect people from the explosion of toxic freshwater algae. This is an attempt to early warning of toxins and blooms of algae in freshwater systems through satellites collecting color data from freshwater areas during the sweep of the Earth's surface.

Based on this source of information, the authorities can give timely warning to the community. In addition, the project also helps to improve understanding of the causes of formation and health impacts of algal blooms in the United States.

To monitor algae in the sea, scientists in NOAA use sensors mounted on lifeboats or attached to unmanned devices operating underwater. For example, NOAA is investing in the development of an automatic underground microscope network called cytobot for oceanography (Imaging Flow Cytobot) to monitor and alert early red tide.

Every 20 minutes, the device dives into the water again. When the water flows through the laser emitter, the image of every cell containing chlorophyll will be automatically captured. Computer analyzes images to determine the type of algae cells and informs the authorities if the number of toxic algae cells exceeds the threshold.

The Plankton Monitoring Network is also another initiative that helps track the red tide in the sea. The program focuses on training volunteers across the United States to collect water samples and identify plankton types (organizing a cell) that are potentially harmful in seawater.