ECOHAB: Mote Process Cruises 1998 through 2000 (NCEI Accession 0000529)

During 21 of the past 22 years, red tide blooms have been observed within the region between Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor. The key to understanding any HAB lies in knowing how one algal species has adapted and come to dominate in its particular realm of physical, biological and chemical conditions. Our ability to predict initiation, maintenance, and dispersal of blooms on the Florida shelf has been severely limited by the lack of a quantitative description, or model, of their population dynamics and the physical, biological and chemical regime in which they are embedded.

The modeling components of this project will incorporate the quantitative description of blooms and their surrounding environment provided by the field and laboratory portions of this project. The field component will employ a set of annual process cruises.