Monitoring Cochlodinium polykrikoides red tide in the south sea of Korea by satellite

Abstract

The possibility of monitoring Cochlodinium polykrikoides red tides by satellite-borne ocean color remote sensing was discussed. Areas of high concentrations (> 5 mg m-3) in the daily satellite chlorophyll-a distribution corresponded fairly well to areas of C. polykrikoides red tides in the south sea of Korea drawn by the Korea National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI). However, satellite chlorophyll-a data was missing near the coastal area, possibly because of the influences of clouds, turbid water, brightness of land and other reasons. Interannual variability of monthly composites of maximam satellite derived chlorophyll-a concentratrons also corresponded to the NFRDI monthly maps during 2000 to 2004 except 2001, Satellite chlorophyll-a was high even when there was no C. polykrikoides red tide report, possibly because of the influence of turbidity or blooms of other species in the west sea and upwelling area of the east sea. Spectral information can also be used to identify red tides with maximum remote sensing reflectance around 550 nm and a steeper decrease to 500 nm than the shorter wavelength. Satellite remote sensing data can be used for monitoring C. polykrikoides red tides; however it should be carefully used with field observation data because of its limitations.