Parameters for Predicting Red Tides of Bioluminescent Dinoflagellates: Meterological Events and Frontal Water Circulation Patterns.

Abstract

Climatic events and bio-physical sequences involved in red tide formation have been characterized by mnemonic symbols and applied to geographical regions with spatial scales from meters to hundreds of kilometers and temporal scales ranging from daily to annual. Red tides may represent selections for optimization for sexual mating and for delivery of sexual or overwintering benthic cysts to 'seed bed' areas. A frontal convergence zone at the seaward edge of upwelling regions can exist and be a source of dinoflagellates transported into nearshore waters below a pycnocline. The physical hydrographic integrity of red tide surface patches enhances transport within geostrophic surface current jets with minimal dilution losses. Stepwise emigration and colonization are fortuitous consequences of red tide formation. Anthropogenic hypereutrophication along coastlines may have enhanced the efficiencies of stepwise emigrations, permitting colonization of areas not previously accessible.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1992
Accession Number
ADA254835

Entities

People

  • Howard H. Seliger

Organizations

  • Johns Hopkins University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Bays
  • Convergence
  • Convergence Zones (Sonar)
  • Jet Transport Aircraft
  • Operating Systems
  • Phytoplankton
  • Regions
  • Salt Water
  • Secondary Flow
  • Sequences
  • Shores
  • Solar Radiation
  • Surface Transportation
  • Surface Waters
  • Transport Ships
  • Upwelling
  • Water

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Aquatic Ecology
  • Coastal Oceanography
  • Microbial Pathology