Harmful Algal Bloom Forecasts and Satellite Imagery for the Gulf of Mexico

Forecast products and associated satellite imagery from the NOAA Harmful Algal Bloom Operational Forecast System for the Gulf of Mexico. The collection contains processed satellite imagery, GIS files, image files, and forecast bulletins from 2001-02-02 to 2001-12-10. Data was created by NOAA's Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services and archived by NCEI.

Use Cases

• Train models to predict HAB transport and intensification using forecast bulletins, satellite ocean color data, and buoy observations.
• Analyze spatial patterns of Karenia brevis blooms by correlating processed HDF4 satellite imagery with field observation reports.
• Validate respiratory irritation forecast models against public health reports and in-situ data from the provided GIS files.
• Study seasonal HAB activity in the Gulf of Mexico using the twice-weekly forecast bulletins issued during active bloom periods.

Strengths

• Includes multi-source data integration from satellite imagery, field observations, models, and buoy data.
• Covers a defined operational period of over 10 months from February to December 2001.
• Forecast bulletins are issued at a regular cadence, twice weekly during active HAB events.

Limitations

• Temporal coverage is limited to a single year (2001), restricting long-term trend analysis.
• Sample size of forecast bulletins is constrained to the issued frequency over the 10-month period.
• Data formats include legacy HDF4, which may require specific libraries for processing.

Provenance

Source

NOAA Harmful Algal Bloom Operational Forecast System (HAB-OFS), operated by the Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services.

Collection Method

Operational forecast system integrating analysis of satellite imagery, field observations, models, public health reports, and buoy data.

Time Range

2001-02-02 to 2001-12-10

Freshness

Data collection ended on 2001-12-10; it is a historical snapshot with no ongoing updates in this accession.

Geography

Gulf of Mexico