SoundHAB: Bloom conditions

[Jack Rensel]

I am reminding folks that conditions are ideal for a Heterosigma bloom
presently and a few cells are being seen in North Puget Sound samples
presently.  Tidal amplitude is large right now which tends to attenuate
blooms but the daily north winds are strong enough to blow the Fraser Rv.
brackish plume southward into our waters.  

 

Central Puget Sound is also warmer than "normal' right now with surface
waters around 12 to 13C in open areas and as high as 17C in the backwaters
like Sinclair Inlet.  Review of past blooms in Central Puget Sound indicate
that a single factor, water temperature, is most commonly linked with
Heterosigma blooms and possibly PSP-causing Alexandrium blooms too. 

 

Given the circumstances, I would advise increased vigilance and please share
your findings with the 80+ other SoundHAB list serve members.  

 

Special thanks to our Canadian friend Nicky Haigh (Harmful Algae Monitoring
Program)

for keeping us posted on events up there. 

 

Jack

 

J.E. Jack Rensel Ph.D.

Rensel Associates Aquatic Sciences

4209 234th Street N.E. 

Arlington WA 98223 USA

360-435-3285

cell: 360-631-6538

jackrensel at att.net

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.whoi.edu/pipermail/soundhab/attachments/20070710/1ef350d3/attachment.htm