Using Citizen Science and Remote Sensing to Detect Toxic Algae

 These images are from a study done at The University of Georgia to try to detect and treat toxic algae blooms sooner than was previously possible. The images show algae blooms in two different lakes in Florida and Nevada (Figure 1 and Figure 2). These images, along with on-site sensors show the presence of an algae bloom. The research team developed an algorithm to search social media sites where people may be posting about blooms that they cannot detect from the satellite imagery. Using information gathered from this algorithm, the team can look at satellite images of the water body to determine if there is a bloom. They then will alert local authorities to allow them to test the water to determine the toxicity of the bloom. Along with the algorithm, they also have an app that allows citizens to put in data all over the world. The research team hopes that between citizens providing local data, and their ability to detect blooms through satellite imagery, they will be able to sooner detect and treat toxic blooms across the world.

Source: https://news.uga.edu/new-system-detects-toxic-algae/