Design and Implementation of a Global Harmful Algal Bloom Observing System

Summary and Expectations

This one-hour special session will feature presentations and a roundtable discussion that focus on the design and implementation of a global harmful algal bloom (HAB) observing system integrated with broader conference objectives of observing life in the sea in a changing climate. We will deliver a set of recommendations to the global ocean observing community and the UNESCO SCOR/GlobalHAB program as action items that align with the GOOS framework and respond (but are not limited) to the following objectives: 1) advance and improve cost-effective and sustainable HAB forecast systems that address the HAB-risk warning requirements of key end-users at global and regional levels; 2) incorporate available Earth Observations into monitoring and predictive efforts, including blended model-satellite products and data-assimilative model systems; 3) identify societal priorities with respect to the HAB problem, e.g. public health, food security, clean drinking water, aquaculture, sustainable fishing, tourism and recreation, and 4) form programs with robust communication channels for stakeholders and partners.

Expected Outcomes/Recommendations

• The ocean observing community must advance an end-to-end global observing system that responds to marine related societal needs and provides improved, advanced warnings of harmful algal blooms (HABs), in particular.
• The integrated observing system should fill the need for sustained, automated, near real-time information on biology, including HAB species & toxins, and improved forecast systems that address the HAB-risk warning requirements at global & regional levels.
• The system will scale up from regional networks to global framework through interregional technology & product development to address societal needs while sustaining multidisciplinary and climate-quality datasets to ascertain long-term trends in HABs.