Harmful Algal Blooms | Algae

NitraLED UV Nitrate Sensor and DB600 Data Buoy Overview

Fri, 27 Aug 2021 09:35:25 GMT

See how to put together a floating nutrient monitoring system with the EXO NitraLED sensor and the DB600 data buoy.

Why Monitor for Algae

Mon, 17 Aug 2020 08:43:28 GMT

ALGAE

Let's talk about why people monitor for algae.

The amount and type of algae can tell you a lot about the health of that system. But first, let’s cover what we’re referring to as algae. In simple terms, algae are photosynthetic organisms like plants. We can separate out the macroalgae, such as the red, brown, and green algae – sometimes referred to as seaweeds. Let’s instead focus on the microalgae, or single-celled algae.

Prokaryotes like blue-green algae lack a nucleus. This technically makes them photosynthetic bacteria, but they are still important to this discussion. There are also the eukaryotes like those that cause red and brown tides.

One thing all of these microalgae have in common is that you can find them in both freshwater and marine environments.

One major reason to monitor for algae is aquatic ecology research. This includes primary productivity like photosynthesis, system health and dynamics, and an interest in the types and abundance of algae in a system.

But the big reason for monitoring algae these days is source water protection and concerns over drinking water safety. Most states in the U.S. are dealing with Harmful Algal Blooms. These can range from cyanobacteria in the Great Lakes to red tides in Florida and the Gulf Coast. These blooms cause severe impacts on residents and local wildlife. From coast to coast, there is a need for algae monitoring.

So why do we monitor for algae? Scientists might be interested in how a body of water switches over from what we sometimes call healthy algae, like diatoms, to unhealthy algae like the blue-greens. A treatment plant operator or drinking water manager would be more concerned if the product they’re delivering is clean and safe for consumption. And of course, the public beachgoers want to know if it’s safe to swim or fish in the water.

You can learn more at YSI.com/how-sensors-work

The Latest in HABs Research and Technology

Thu, 12 Dec 2019 09:17:49 GMT

If you're interested in the latest in harmful algal bloom (HAB) research and new technologies, then this blog post is for you. Dr. Smith recently returned from the HAB Symposium and attended three talks that stand out.

>>> https://www.ysi.com/ysi-blog/water-blogged-blog/2019/11/the-latest-in-hab-research-and-technology

YSI Webinar | How Algae Sensors Work

Wed, 03 Jul 2019 09:37:10 GMT

This webinar describes the underlying principles and best practices to use with algae sensors. YSI’s Dr. Stephanie A. Smith divided the presentation into four sections:

Why Monitor for Algae?
Evolution of Algae Monitoring
How Algae Sensors Work: Principles
How Algae Sensors Work: Best Practices

Plus, there are over 30 minutes of Q&A where Dr. Smith answered the audience’s questions!

Helpful time stamps:

4:12 -- Stephanie starts talking

5:20 – Why Monitor for Algae?

9:38 – Evolution of Algae Monitoring

15:46 – How Algae Sensors Work: Principles

33:37 – Impromptu Q&A

38:40 – How Algae Sensors Work: Best Practices

55:52 – Final Poll and Q&A

About Algae

Questions? Let us know.

YSI Webinar | Red Tide Monitoring

Fri, 31 Aug 2018 10:35:27 GMT

What role does continuous water quality monitoring play in our detection and response? Find out in our latest harmful algal bloom webinar from Dr. Stephanie A. Smith of YSI.

The webinar covers:

An overview of red tides:

Why they're a problem
Key factors of Florida red tides

Red tide monitoring

Principle of resolution
Parameters

And recommendations.

>>> You might want to also check out another recent webinar Are You Ready for HAB Monitoring?

YSI Webinar | Are You Ready Harmful Algal Blooms Season?

Fri, 27 Apr 2018 15:22:06 GMT

In this webinar, you will receive a foundational understanding of YSI Total Algae sensors, including how to calibrate them, which units to use, and how to interpret data gathered with the sensors. This webinar is especially useful for new users and users transitioning from our legacy 6-series to our EXO and ProDSS (Digital Sampling System) platforms.

Watching this webinar you’ll learn about:
Using algal pigments for early Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) detection
6-series chlorophyll and BGA vs. the new Total Algae (TAL) sensors
Calibration with Rhadamine WT
Choosing the right units
The new cells/mL tool in KorEXO software
Real-world data examples and challenges

Check out the blog post listing for blue green algae/chlorophyll to learn more.

YSI Webinar | Drowning in Data, Monitoring Harmful Algal Blooms

Tue, 10 Oct 2017 19:00:00 GMT

Watch Part I, From Data to Decisions: http://video.ysi.com/ysi-webinar-monitoring-for-harmful-algal-blooms

Are you drowning in data? Join Dr. Stephanie A. Smith of YSI, a Xylem Brand, and Chuck Springer of Aquatic Informatics as they review best practices for managing and interpreting algae data in this recorded webinar!

Interpreting algae monitoring data is not straightforward, even with the most sophisticated instruments at our fingertips. Examples of challenges include:

Processing and interpreting large datasets
Working with mismatched timestamps and data from multiple sources
Collating data which exist in different file formats
Correcting water quality signals to compensate for sensor drift and step changes

Webinar Highlights

Demonstration of how spreadsheet tools can be used to process data
Discussion about the limitations of sensor technologies for describing algal biology in units such as CFU/ml and a discussion on how software can be leveraged to estimate some of these values
Description of solutions for managing data from discrete environmental samples, multi-parameter sondes, and laboratory analyses
Best practices on identifying data outliers, reviewing associated metadata, and applying drift corrections across disparate files generated by monitoring tools
Many of these same techniques can be used across a variety of parameters and monitoring applications!

YSI Webinar | Monitoring for Harmful Algal Blooms

Wed, 26 Jul 2017 19:00:00 GMT

Watch Part II, Drowning in Data: http://video.ysi.com/ysi-webinar-drowning-in-data-monitoring-harmful

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) have increased in both frequency and intensity in the last two decades, driven by climate change and activities that introduce growth-stimulating nutrients into waterways.

Concerns related to freshwater HABs range from the innocuous but unpleasant taste and odor compounds that find their way into drinking water, to fish kills and algal toxins that are harmful to human health. These consequences have increased the pressure upon researchers, watershed managers, water utility operators and public health professionals to closely monitor for the onset of HABs and prepare to respond.

Dr. Stephanie A. Smith provides a basic overview of bloom-forming algae, including a review of the toxins that are of human health concern.

YSI Webinar | The Phosphorus Problem | Treatment Options and Process...

Tue, 15 Sep 2015 19:00:00 GMT

Recent events have demonstrated that excess phosphorus in receiving waters can create many serious problems including impairment of drinking water supplies. For this reason and others, incorporation of phosphorus limits into NPDES discharge permits is occurring in many states.

Many facilities are being required to remove phosphorus for the first time and will need to add a process to the flow sheet. A discharge limit of 1.0 mg/L may be achieved most cost-effectively with chemical addition. Enhanced biological treatment may be needed to meet lower limits down to 0.5 mg/L and below. Additionally, biological treatment has other potential benefits.

Regardless of the treatment method, continuous monitoring is essential. Critical parameters include orthophosphate, dissolved oxygen, oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), total suspended solids, and nitrate.