Description of Chlorophyll a:
At the base of most marine food webs are microscopic plants, called phytoplankton - which also produce nearly half of the Earth’s oxygen. One way we measure the amount of phytoplankton in the ocean is via a pigment that phytoplankton produce - chlorophyll a. Using ocean color sensors on satellites, we can measure the amount of chlorophyll a in surface waters. Environmental and oceanographic factors continuously influence the abundance, composition, spatial distribution, and productivity of phytoplankton. Tracking the amount of phytoplankton in the ocean gives us the status of the base of the food web, and how much food is available for other animals to grow. Changes in the amount of phytoplankton in the ocean are part of the natural seasonal cycle, but can also indicate an ecosystem’s response to a major external disturbance.
Data:
Chlorophyll a data were obtained from the NOAA Fisheries Coastal & Oceanic Plankton Ecology, Production, & Observations Database. Measurements of ocean chlorophyll concentration were combined from both the SeaWiFS and MODIS-Aqua "ocean color" datasets and binned at 0.5 x 0.5 degree latitude-longitude boxes, annual averages for each year calculated from the average of all monthly means in that year, and the annual mean was calculated as the average of all annual means.
Alaska-East Bering Sea
Description of time series:
During the last five years the chlorophyll a indicator shows a significant upward trend.
Description of gauge:
The gauge value of 70 indicates that over the last five years, average chlorophyll a has been higher than the median value.
Description of Chlorophyll a:
At the base of most marine food webs are microscopic plants, called phytoplankton - which also produce nearly half of the Earth’s oxygen. One way we measure the amount of phytoplankton in the ocean is via a pigment that phytoplankton produce - chlorophyll a. Using ocean color sensors on satellites, we can measure the amount of chlorophyll a in surface waters. Environmental and oceanographic factors continuously influence the abundance, composition, spatial distribution, and productivity of phytoplankton. Tracking the amount of phytoplankton in the ocean gives us the status of the base of the food web, and how much food is available for other animals to grow. Changes in the amount of phytoplankton in the ocean are part of the natural seasonal cycle, but can also indicate an ecosystem’s response to a major external disturbance.
Overall Scores mean the following:
- 0 - 10: “significantly lower” the long term median state
- 10 - 25: “considerably lower” the long term median state
- 25 - 50: “slightly lower” the long term median state
- 50: the long term median state
- 50 - 75: “slightly above” the long term median state
- 75 - 90 “considerably above” the long term median state
- 90 - 100: “significantly higher” the long term median state
High values of Chlorophyll a can be good (lots of big nutrious diatoms) or bad (Harmful Algal Blooms), depending on the species present.
Data:
Chlorophyll a data were obtained from the NOAA Fisheries Coastal & Oceanic Plankton Ecology, Production, & Observations Database. Measurements of ocean chlorophyll concentration were combined from both the SeaWiFS and MODIS-Aqua "ocean color" datasets and binned at 0.5 x 0.5 degree latitude-longitude boxes, annual averages for each year calculated from the average of all monthly means in that year, and the annual mean was calculated as the average of all annual means. Source: https://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/copepod/about/about-copepod.html.
Alaska-Gulf of Alaska
Description of time series:
During the last five years the chlorophyll a indicator shows no significant trend but is above the 90th percentile.
Description of gauge:
The gauge value of 90 indicates that over the last five years, average chlorophyll a has been very high compared to the median value.
Description of Chlorophyll a:
At the base of most marine food webs are microscopic plants, called phytoplankton - which also produce nearly half of the Earth’s oxygen. One way we measure the amount of phytoplankton in the ocean is via a pigment that phytoplankton produce - chlorophyll a. Using ocean color sensors on satellites, we can measure the amount of chlorophyll a in surface waters. Environmental and oceanographic factors continuously influence the abundance, composition, spatial distribution, and productivity of phytoplankton. Tracking the amount of phytoplankton in the ocean gives us the status of the base of the food web, and how much food is available for other animals to grow. Changes in the amount of phytoplankton in the ocean are part of the natural seasonal cycle, but can also indicate an ecosystem’s response to a major external disturbance.
Overall Scores mean the following:
- 0 - 10: “significantly lower” the long term median state
- 10 - 25: “considerably lower” the long term median state
- 25 - 50: “slightly lower” the long term median state
- 50: the long term median state
- 50 - 75: “slightly above” the long term median state
- 75 - 90 “considerably above” the long term median state
- 90 - 100: “significantly higher” the long term median state
High values of Chlorophyll a can be good (lots of big nutrious diatoms) or bad (Harmful Algal Blooms), depending on the species present.
Data:
Chlorophyll a data were obtained from the NOAA Fisheries Coastal & Oceanic Plankton Ecology, Production, & Observations Database. Measurements of ocean chlorophyll concentration were combined from both the SeaWiFS and MODIS-Aqua "ocean color" datasets and binned at 0.5 x 0.5 degree latitude-longitude boxes, annual averages for each year calculated from the average of all monthly means in that year, and the annual mean was calculated as the average of all annual means. Source: https://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/copepod/about/about-copepod.html.
Hawaii - Pacific Islands
Description of time series:
During the last five years the chlorophyll a indicator shows no significant trend.
Description of gauge:
The gauge value of 35 indicates that over the last five years, average chlorophyll a has been lower than the median value.
Description of Chlorophyll a:
At the base of most marine food webs are microscopic plants, called phytoplankton - which also produce nearly half of the Earth’s oxygen. One way we measure the amount of phytoplankton in the ocean is via a pigment that phytoplankton produce - chlorophyll a. Using ocean color sensors on satellites, we can measure the amount of chlorophyll a in surface waters. Environmental and oceanographic factors continuously influence the abundance, composition, spatial distribution, and productivity of phytoplankton. Tracking the amount of phytoplankton in the ocean gives us the status of the base of the food web, and how much food is available for other animals to grow. Changes in the amount of phytoplankton in the ocean are part of the natural seasonal cycle, but can also indicate an ecosystem’s response to a major external disturbance.
Overall Scores mean the following:
- 0 - 10: “significantly lower” the long term median state
- 10 - 25: “considerably lower” the long term median state
- 25 - 50: “slightly lower” the long term median state
- 50: the long term median state
- 50 - 75: “slightly above” the long term median state
- 75 - 90 “considerably above” the long term median state
- 90 - 100: “significantly higher” the long term median state
High values of Chlorophyll a can be good (lots of big nutrious diatoms) or bad (Harmful Algal Blooms), depending on the species present.
Data:
Chlorophyll a data were obtained from the NOAA Fisheries Coastal & Oceanic Plankton Ecology, Production, & Observations Database. Measurements of ocean chlorophyll concentration were combined from both the SeaWiFS and MODIS-Aqua "ocean color" datasets and binned at 0.5 x 0.5 degree latitude-longitude boxes, annual averages for each year calculated from the average of all monthly means in that year, and the annual mean was calculated as the average of all annual means. Source: https://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/copepod/about/about-copepod.html.
California Current
Description of time series:
During the last five years the chlorophyll a indicator shows no significant trend.
Description of gauge:
The gauge value of 40 indicates that over the last five years, average chlorophyll a has been lower than average.
Description of Chlorophyll a:
At the base of most marine food webs are microscopic plants, called phytoplankton - which also produce nearly half of the Earth’s oxygen. One way we measure the amount of phytoplankton in the ocean is via a pigment that phytoplankton produce - chlorophyll a. Using ocean color sensors on satellites, we can measure the amount of chlorophyll a in surface waters. Environmental and oceanographic factors continuously influence the abundance, composition, spatial distribution, and productivity of phytoplankton. Tracking the amount of phytoplankton in the ocean gives us the status of the base of the food web, and how much food is available for other animals to grow. Changes in the amount of phytoplankton in the ocean are part of the natural seasonal cycle, but can also indicate an ecosystem’s response to a major external disturbance.
Overall Scores mean the following:
- 0 - 10: “significantly lower” the long term median state
- 10 - 25: “considerably lower” the long term median state
- 25 - 50: “slightly lower” the long term median state
- 50: the long term median state
- 50 - 75: “slightly above” the long term median state
- 75 - 90 “considerably above” the long term median state
- 90 - 100: “significantly higher” the long term median state
High values of Chlorophyll a can be good (lots of big nutrious diatoms) or bad (Harmful Algal Blooms), depending on the species present.
Data:
Chlorophyll a data were obtained from the NOAA Fisheries Coastal & Oceanic Plankton Ecology, Production, & Observations Database. Measurements of ocean chlorophyll concentration were combined from both the SeaWiFS and MODIS-Aqua "ocean color" datasets and binned at 0.5 x 0.5 degree latitude-longitude boxes, annual averages for each year calculated from the average of all monthly means in that year, and the annual mean was calculated as the average of all annual means. Source: https://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/copepod/about/about-copepod.html.
Gulf of Mexico
Description of time series:
During the last five years the chlorophyll a indicator shows no significant trend.
Description of gauge:
The gauge value of 80 indicates that over the last five years, average chlorophyll a has been much higher than the median value.
Description of Chlorophyll a:
At the base of most marine food webs are microscopic plants, called phytoplankton - which also produce nearly half of the Earth’s oxygen. One way we measure the amount of phytoplankton in the ocean is via a pigment that phytoplankton produce - chlorophyll a. Using ocean color sensors on satellites, we can measure the amount of chlorophyll a in surface waters. Environmental and oceanographic factors continuously influence the abundance, composition, spatial distribution, and productivity of phytoplankton. Tracking the amount of phytoplankton in the ocean gives us the status of the base of the food web, and how much food is available for other animals to grow. Changes in the amount of phytoplankton in the ocean are part of the natural seasonal cycle, but can also indicate an ecosystem’s response to a major external disturbance.
Overall Scores mean the following:
- 0 - 10: “significantly lower” the long term median state
- 10 - 25: “considerably lower” the long term median state
- 25 - 50: “slightly lower” the long term median state
- 50: the long term median state
- 50 - 75: “slightly above” the long term median state
- 75 - 90 “considerably above” the long term median state
- 90 - 100: “significantly higher” the long term median state
High values of Chlorophyll a can be good (lots of big nutrious diatoms) or bad (Harmful Algal Blooms), depending on the species present.
Data:
Chlorophyll a data were obtained from the NOAA Fisheries Coastal & Oceanic Plankton Ecology, Production, & Observations Database. Measurements of ocean chlorophyll concentration were combined from both the SeaWiFS and MODIS-Aqua "ocean color" datasets and binned at 0.5 x 0.5 degree latitude-longitude boxes, annual averages for each year calculated from the average of all monthly means in that year, and the annual mean was calculated as the average of all annual means. Source: https://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/copepod/about/about-copepod.html.
Caribbean Sea
Description of time series:
During the last five years the chlorophyll a indicator shows no significant trend.
Description of gauge:
The gauge value of 80 indicates that over the last five years, average chlorophyll a has been much higher than the median value.
Description of Chlorophyll a:
At the base of most marine food webs are microscopic plants, called phytoplankton - which also produce nearly half of the Earth’s oxygen. One way we measure the amount of phytoplankton in the ocean is via a pigment that phytoplankton produce - chlorophyll a. Using ocean color sensors on satellites, we can measure the amount of chlorophyll a in surface waters. Environmental and oceanographic factors continuously influence the abundance, composition, spatial distribution, and productivity of phytoplankton. Tracking the amount of phytoplankton in the ocean gives us the status of the base of the food web, and how much food is available for other animals to grow. Changes in the amount of phytoplankton in the ocean are part of the natural seasonal cycle, but can also indicate an ecosystem’s response to a major external disturbance.
Overall Scores mean the following:
- 0 - 10: “significantly lower” the long term median state
- 10 - 25: “considerably lower” the long term median state
- 25 - 50: “slightly lower” the long term median state
- 50: the long term median state
- 50 - 75: “slightly above” the long term median state
- 75 - 90 “considerably above” the long term median state
- 90 - 100: “significantly higher” the long term median state
High values of Chlorophyll a can be good (lots of big nutrious diatoms) or bad (Harmful Algal Blooms), depending on the species present.
Data:
Chlorophyll a data were obtained from the NOAA Fisheries Coastal & Oceanic Plankton Ecology, Production, & Observations Database. Measurements of ocean chlorophyll concentration were combined from both the SeaWiFS and MODIS-Aqua "ocean color" datasets and binned at 0.5 x 0.5 degree latitude-longitude boxes, annual averages for each year calculated from the average of all monthly means in that year, and the annual mean was calculated as the average of all annual means. Source: https://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/copepod/about/about-copepod.html.
Southeast US
Description of time series:
During the last five years the chlorophyll a indicator shows a significant upward trend.
Description of gauge:
The gauge value of 80 indicates that over the last five years, average chlorophyll a has been much higher than the median value.
Description of Chlorophyll a:
At the base of most marine food webs are microscopic plants, called phytoplankton - which also produce nearly half of the Earth’s oxygen. One way we measure the amount of phytoplankton in the ocean is via a pigment that phytoplankton produce - chlorophyll a. Using ocean color sensors on satellites, we can measure the amount of chlorophyll a in surface waters. Environmental and oceanographic factors continuously influence the abundance, composition, spatial distribution, and productivity of phytoplankton. Tracking the amount of phytoplankton in the ocean gives us the status of the base of the food web, and how much food is available for other animals to grow. Changes in the amount of phytoplankton in the ocean are part of the natural seasonal cycle, but can also indicate an ecosystem’s response to a major external disturbance.
Overall Scores mean the following:
- 0 - 10: “significantly lower” the long term median state
- 10 - 25: “considerably lower” the long term median state
- 25 - 50: “slightly lower” the long term median state
- 50: the long term median state
- 50 - 75: “slightly above” the long term median state
- 75 - 90 “considerably above” the long term median state
- 90 - 100: “significantly higher” the long term median state
High values of Chlorophyll a can be good (lots of big nutrious diatoms) or bad (Harmful Algal Blooms), depending on the species present.
Data:
Chlorophyll a data were obtained from the NOAA Fisheries Coastal & Oceanic Plankton Ecology, Production, & Observations Database. Measurements of ocean chlorophyll concentration were combined from both the SeaWiFS and MODIS-Aqua "ocean color" datasets and binned at 0.5 x 0.5 degree latitude-longitude boxes, annual averages for each year calculated from the average of all monthly means in that year, and the annual mean was calculated as the average of all annual means. Source: https://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/copepod/about/about-copepod.html.
Northeast US
Description of time series:
During the last five years the chlorophyll a indicator shows no significant trend.
Description of gauge:
The gauge value of 70 indicates that over the last five years, average chlorophyll a has been higher than the median.
Description of Chlorophyll a:
At the base of most marine food webs are microscopic plants, called phytoplankton - which also produce nearly half of the Earth’s oxygen. One way we measure the amount of phytoplankton in the ocean is via a pigment that phytoplankton produce - chlorophyll a. Using ocean color sensors on satellites, we can measure the amount of chlorophyll a in surface waters. Environmental and oceanographic factors continuously influence the abundance, composition, spatial distribution, and productivity of phytoplankton. Tracking the amount of phytoplankton in the ocean gives us the status of the base of the food web, and how much food is available for other animals to grow. Changes in the amount of phytoplankton in the ocean are part of the natural seasonal cycle, but can also indicate an ecosystem’s response to a major external disturbance.
Overall Scores mean the following:
- 0 - 10: “significantly lower” the long term median state
- 10 - 25: “considerably lower” the long term median state
- 25 - 50: “slightly lower” the long term median state
- 50: the long term median state
- 50 - 75: “slightly above” the long term median state
- 75 - 90 “considerably above” the long term median state
- 90 - 100: “significantly higher” the long term median state
High values of Chlorophyll a can be good (lots of big nutrious diatoms) or bad (Harmful Algal Blooms), depending on the species present.
Data:
Chlorophyll a data were obtained from the NOAA Fisheries Coastal & Oceanic Plankton Ecology, Production, & Observations Database. Measurements of ocean chlorophyll concentration were combined from both the SeaWiFS and MODIS-Aqua "ocean color" datasets and binned at 0.5 x 0.5 degree latitude-longitude boxes, annual averages for each year calculated from the average of all monthly means in that year, and the annual mean was calculated as the average of all annual means. Source: https://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/copepod/about/about-copepod.html.
Resources
MODIS Aqua NIR-SWIR Ocean Color Chlorophyll Concentration: Daily - OSPO
The MODIS/Aqua NIR-SWIR ocean color products are derived by using the shortwave infrared (SWIR)-based atmospheric correction algorithm developed by the NOAA/NESDIS Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR). The products include chlorophyll concentration, remote sensing reflectance at 667 nm, water attenuation coefficient at 490 nm over 12 CoastWatch Regions-of-Interest, i.e., Northeast (NE), Southeast (SE), Gulf of Mexico (GOM), Caribbean (CB), West Coast (WC), Alaska (AK), East Tropical Pacific (EP), Equatorial Atlantic (EA), Great Lakes (GL), Hawaii (HI), North Atlantic (NA), and Pacific Basin (PB).
Gulf of Mexico Harmful Algal Bloom Forecast
In the Gulf of Mexico, some harmful algal blooms are caused by the rapid growth of the microscopic algae species Karenia brevis (commonly called red tide). Red tide can cause respiratory illness and eye irritation in humans. It can also kill marine life. Blooms are often patchy, so impacts vary by beach and throughout the day.
NOAA monitors conditions daily and issues twice-weekly forecasts for red tide blooms in the Gulf of Mexico and East Coast of Florida. You can find up-to-date information on where a bloom is located and a 3–4 day forecast for potential respiratory irritation by selecting a region below. This information may help you find an unaffected beach if you are visiting the coast
The global plankton database
COPEPOD's global plankton database component provides plankton and ecosystem researchers with an integrated data set of quality-reviewed, globally distributed plankton abundance, biomass and composition data. Its visual, interactive interface is designed to help the user see exactly what data are currently available and then download them in a variety of usable formats and compilations. In addition to data distribution maps, COPEPOD offers a variety of text and graphical content summaries and searching options.