Development of integrated system for real-time detection and prediction of harmful algal blooms (HABs, red tide) in Korea: based on the hydroacoustic and environmental data

Abstract

The overgrowth of phytoplankton leads to negative effects, such as harmful algal blooms (HABs, red tide) in the marine ecosystems. One of the red tide species, Cochlodinium polykrikoides (C. polykrikoides), irregularly is occurs and massive damages on the aquaculture fishery industry of the coastal ocean of Korea, and all over the world. For a long time, the red tide has monitored from microscopic examination with water samples or visual observations using various research vessels. Despite advantages of species identification, these methods need time, cost and manpower. As a pilot study, we developed and applied an integrated system for the detection and prediction of red tide events with acoustic and environmental data. The integrated system (called KORED, KIOST Ocean Red tide Detection system) includes the following three components: (1) real-time monitoring data based on the hydroacoustic, environmental (ocean weather, water temperature, salinity, chlorophyll, and sampling data), and satellite data, (2) prediction data based on the precisely current model, and physio-biological model, and (3) data management and visualization. We continuously evaluated the efficiency of the system in southern coastal water of Korea during recent 3 years (2017-2019). Although some improvements, the KORED system successfully functioned over during summer season under in situ conditions based on each components. The system could be u