NCCOS staff recently trained several employees of the South Florida Water Management District on the collection of field radiometry for cyanobacteria algorithm development. Radiometry is the measurement of optical radiant energy. As a result of nutrient inputs to Lake Okeechobee, blooms ofAnabaena,Microcystis, and other cyanobacteria commonly occur, discoloring the water, producing noxious odors, and making the water unsafe for pets and humans.
These data will be collected by the water management district throughout the year on Lake Okeechobee to determine whether current cyanobacteria detection algorithms being applied to MERIS and MODIS-Aqua satellite sensors used in the St. John’s River of Florida and Lake Erie are applicable to Lake Okeechobee.
For more information, contact Michelle.Tomlinson@noaa.gov.