[WRnative]

<<“Historically, K. brevis (Red Tide) blooms typically follow Trichodesmium blooms on the West Florida Shelf. However, before the Saharan dust arrived this year there was already a massive Trichodesmium spp. bloom on the West Florida Shelf. It will be interesting to see whether Trichodesmium spp. increase in response to the Saharan dust deposition and whether a bloom of the harmful algae K. brevis follows the Trichodesmium bloom.”>>

https://www.newswise.com/articles/fs...ran-dust-cloud


It would seem that there is a high probability of a significant Red Tide bloom in Florida's Gulf coast this year.


The FSU experts listed in the above article would seem to have valuable information to convey to Floridians, but I haven't found any articles quoting them.


There also doesn't appear to be any archive or index of the current size of the Trichodesmium bloom on the West Florida Shelf despite the apparent availability of information regarding this apparently important precursor to red tide blooms.

[LKJ1988]

We get some kind of red tide every year dear.

[beach43ofus]

The Saharan dust cloud turned out to be a non-event for Florida thus far.

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by beach43ofus

The Saharan dust cloud turned out to be a non-event for Florida thus far.

I actually died twice this year from it.

[Huasho]

And yet...you have RISSEN from the Sand Dust !!!

[WRnative]

Originally Posted by WRnative

If more iron is deposited in the Karenia brevis breeding waters of the Gulf, then Red Tides may become more frequent and more severe.

So the impact of the currently large Saharan dust clouds on the 2020 Karenia brevis bloom could foreshadow the future, if the quantity of Saharan dust transported to the Gulf does indeed increase in coming years.

The warming Gulf waters may suppress the bloom until the Gulf cools, assuming that nitrogen levels don't dissipate in the interim.

<<K. brevis has an optimum temperature range of 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)>>

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karenia_brevis

https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/dat...uide/egof.html

Current Gulf of Mexico temperatures are not yet optimum for Red Tide blooms, which have an optimum temperature range of up to 82 degrees F.

Currently, Gulf of Mexico temperatures off Florida's southwest coast generally are above 83 degrees F.

https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt//cwtg/egof_tmap.html

https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/dat...uide/egof.html

So as the hurricane season wanes in coming weeks due to falling ocean temperatures, Floridians will find out if this year's large Saharan dust clouds have set the stage for another Red Tide event. Hurricanes generally require ocean temperatures of 82 degrees F., according to NASA, so 82 degrees F. is a key ocean temperature to watch in Florida for both hurricanes and Red Tide.

https://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/en...NE_RECIPE.html

Currently, significant Red Tide blooms are not present off the southwest Florida coast.

https://myfwc.com/media/24764/swtable1009.pdf

[WRnative]

With the ocean cooling, concern now will shift from hurricanes to a Red Tide watch.

The latest report actually shows "VERY LOW" readings at two monitoring sites in Sarasota County, including Nokomis Beach. South Lido Beach had a "BACKGROUND" result.

https://myfwc.com/media/25130/swtable1125.pdf

[LKJ1988]

South west coast of FL seems to get it the most this time of year dear. When i fished way south of my area in 240 to 320ft west of Naples i never had to deal with it since i was far offshore.

[WRnative]

With the ocean cooling, attention will shift from hurricanes to the Red Tide.


The 11/25/20 Southwest Coast Red Tide Status Report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission showed "VERY LOW" readings for two monitoring sites in Sarasota County, including Nokomis Beach. South Lido Park had a "BACKGROUND" reading.


https://myfwc.com/media/25130/swtable1125.pdf


Ocean temperatures off the southwest Florida coast have fallen to below 73 degrees F., the bottom of the ideal temperature range for the Karenia brevis dinoflagellate that causes the Red Tide. See post 66 and link below.

https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt//cwtg/egof_tmap.html

If the temperature falls rapidly below 72 degrees F., perhaps any Red Tide this year will be less severe than the last outbreak a few years ago, although the Red Tide can flourish throughout the winter off the Florida coast. The cooling impact of Hurricane Eta may have spared Southwest Florida a severe Red Tide outbreak.

[beach43ofus]

This Thanksgiving, I'm thankful for all of Gods creatures big & small, even the Red Tide organisms which serve a purpose for Mother Nature, we do not yet know.