Use of Remotely-Sensed Sea Surface Temperatures in Studies of AlexandriumTamarense Bloom Dynamics

摘要

Remote sensing of sea surface temperatures (SST) has proven to be a useful toolin studies of the bloom dynamics of Alexandrium tamarense and the onset of PSP in the southwestern Gulf of Maine. A warm coastal current ( = plume) formed from spring runoff that is believed to be responsible for the southerly transport of A. tamarense along the coast in this region was easily resolved in SST imagery. Coastal upwelling, which moved the warmer A. tamarense-containing buoyant plume offshore and away from nearshore shellfish, was detected in two of the three years of this study. Th imagery provides valuable insights into the short-term oceanographic processes responsible for the development and behavior of the plume and the distribution of A. tamarense. Remotely-sensed SST has great promise as a tool to provide early warning of the conditions conducive for bloom development, transport and the initiation of PSP in this region.