Red Tide

This app exhibits a map with recent purple tide (harmful algal bloom) measurements for Florida coastal areas.

No registration or login required.

Data source: NOAA National Coastal Data Development Center

Measurements are derived from field samples which are individually collected. Tap replace within the app to get the most recent data obtainable from NOAA.

The current version of this app covers the state of Florida only.

RED TIDE BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website

What is a pink tide?

A red tide, or dangerous algal bloom, is a higher-than-normal concentration of a microscopic alga (plantlike organism). In Florida and the Gulf of Mexico, the species that causes most red tides is Karenia brevis, often abbreviated as K. brevis.

Are purple tides red?

At excessive enough concentrations, pink tide can discolor water a pink or brown hue. Blooms brought on by different algal species can appear purple, brown, green or even purple. The water also can remain its normal colour during a bloom.

Is pink tide a new phenomenon?

No, pink tides had been documented in the southern Gulf of Mexico way back to the 1700s and along Florida's Gulf coast in the 1840s. Fish kills near Tampa Bay had been even mentioned in the records of Spanish explorers.

How long do red tides last?

Red tides can last as little as a few weeks or longer than a yr. They can even subside after which reoccur. The period of a bloom in nearshore Florida waters depends on bodily and organic conditions that affect its development and persistence, together with daylight, nutrients and salinity, in addition to the speed and direction of wind and water currents.

Is red tide in Florida found in estuaries, bays or freshwater systems?

Red tide in Florida may be found in bays and estuaries however not in freshwater techniques corresponding to lakes and rivers. Because Karenia brevis can't tolerate low-salinity waters for very long, blooms usually remain in salty coastal waters and do not penetrate higher reaches of estuaries. However, other harmful algae, together with cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), sometimes bloom in freshwater lakes and rivers.

Why are purple tides harmful?

Many pink tides produce poisonous chemicals that can affect both marine organisms and humans. The purple tide organism in Florida, Karenia brevis, produces brevetoxins that can affect the central nervous system of fish and different vertebrates, causing these animals to die. Wave action can break open K. brevis cells and launch these toxins into the air, leading to respiratory irritation. For folks with severe or chronic respiratory situations, corresponding to emphysema or bronchial asthma, red tide could cause critical sickness. The red tide toxins can also accumulate in molluscan filter-feeders corresponding to oysters and clams, which may lead to Neurotoxic Shellfish Poisoning in individuals who consume contaminated shellfish.

HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES

Will I expertise respiratory irritation throughout a pink tide in Florida?

Some folks expertise respiratory irritation (coughing, sneezing, tearing and an itchy throat) when the purple tide organism, Karenia brevis, is current and winds blow onshore. Offshore winds often keep respiratory effects skilled by those on the shore to a minimal. The Florida Department of Health advises folks with severe or persistent respiratory conditions, similar to emphysema or bronchial asthma, to avoid purple tide areas.

Is it safe to swim throughout a red tide in Florida?

Swimming is safe for most people. However, the purple tide can cause some people to undergo pores and skin irritation and burning eyes. People with respiratory sickness may also experience respiratory irritation within the water. Use widespread sense. If you are particularly vulnerable to irritation from plant products, avoid an area with a red tide bloom. If you experience irritation, get out of the water and totally wash off. Do not swim amongst useless fish as a result of they are often related to dangerous micro organism.