Written by Sean Beckwith, PhD student
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - Constantly scanning the earth in large swaths, satellites remotely sense the oceans and continuously transmit their data, 0’s and 1’s representing infrared and visible electromagnetic radiation, the portions of the spectrum most relevant to life on earth. Dr. Chuanmin Hu and his group, the Optical Oceanography Laboratory, specialize in using optics and remote sensing to study algal blooms and water quality.
By taking optical measurements of the surface of coastal and inland waters and by examining samples of floating seaweed, Dr. Hu and fellow researchers look for improvements to algorithms that are used to interpret remotely sensed data. Students in the lab group play an integral role in conducting field work and processing data.
Through the Virtual Buoy System (VBS), a vast network of virtual stations that receive georeferenced satellite information, the lab group provides a wealth of physical and optical water parameters on their website, with updates performed weekly.
Additionally, the Sargassum Watch System (SaWS) uses standard and custom algorithms to monitor and track Sargassum seaweed and other floating algae. An Integrated Red-tide Information System (IRIS) has been established to monitor red tides in coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. These three projects and more, along with data and map links to Google Earth can be found on the Optical Oceanography Laboratory website.
Funding by NASA and NSF allows Dr. Hu’s lab to provide these products to agencies and the general public in order to make informed decisions, whether they be for resource management or for personal occupation and leisure.