The Green Ingredient of Lake Erie: Harmful Algal Blooms
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Graduate
Major
Earth and Environmental Sciences
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Dr. Cetin; Dr. Zhang; Dr. Casey
Presentation Format
Poster Presentation
Abstract/Description
One thing that tampers with the quality of the fresh water supply in rhetorical: how important is water to people? At face value, the answer to this question is that water is vital for America. When colonies of algae grow exponentially and overtake the aquatic area they are considered to be Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). The existence of HABs limits the amount of oxygen and utilizable in the already bounded quantity of fresh water in the world but especially in Lake Erie located in the United States. With the utility of remote sensing, detection of HABs is possible in terms of displaying other additional factors that come into play with their expansion. Observing the datasets supplied via Earth Explorer will provide spatial and temporal data in the forms of Landsat 8 and MODIS, giving a deeper look into HABs to aid in possible prevention. The purpose of this project is to map such occurrences using remotely sensed data by manipulation of RGB wavelengths, algorithms provided by previous studies, and temporal comparisons to show when external factors affect HAB growth from human influenced events such as agricultural run-off. The results to be found will show a large density of HABs in Lake Erie, particular around the coastal edge. Highlighting the importance of paying attention to HABs as they restrict an already limited supply of freshwater in not only America but the world.
Spring Scholars Week 2019 Event
Sigma Xi Poster Competition (Juried)
The Green Ingredient of Lake Erie: Harmful Algal Blooms
One thing that tampers with the quality of the fresh water supply in rhetorical: how important is water to people? At face value, the answer to this question is that water is vital for America. When colonies of algae grow exponentially and overtake the aquatic area they are considered to be Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). The existence of HABs limits the amount of oxygen and utilizable in the already bounded quantity of fresh water in the world but especially in Lake Erie located in the United States. With the utility of remote sensing, detection of HABs is possible in terms of displaying other additional factors that come into play with their expansion. Observing the datasets supplied via Earth Explorer will provide spatial and temporal data in the forms of Landsat 8 and MODIS, giving a deeper look into HABs to aid in possible prevention. The purpose of this project is to map such occurrences using remotely sensed data by manipulation of RGB wavelengths, algorithms provided by previous studies, and temporal comparisons to show when external factors affect HAB growth from human influenced events such as agricultural run-off. The results to be found will show a large density of HABs in Lake Erie, particular around the coastal edge. Highlighting the importance of paying attention to HABs as they restrict an already limited supply of freshwater in not only America but the world.