Outlook of 2020 Sargassum blooms in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico* April 30th, 2020, by University of South Florida Optical Oceanography Lab
Caribbean Ocean Observing System (CARICOOS)
Published: 1 May 2020
In April 2020, Sargassum levels rose to ~5.8 million tons, affecting the central Atlantic and eastern Caribbean. Moderate to strong beaching is expected to persist into summer, with possible spread to Florida by June–July.
Keywords: Sargassum, April 2020, Caribbean Sea, Atlantic bloom, beaching events, SaWS, Gulf of Mexico
AOML-CARICOOS & NAVY HURRICANE GLIDERS ARE PART OF A MAJOR EFFORT TO USE Unmanned systems TO help fill scientific data gaps during COVID-19
Caribbean Ocean Observing System (CARICOOS)
Published: 19 June 2020
In response to COVID-19 disruptions, NOAA deployed autonomous ocean drones in 2020 to gather fishery, seafloor, and weather data in the Pacific, Arctic, and Atlantic. The effort supports hurricane forecasting, fish stock assessment, and ocean mapping.
Keywords: NOAA, unmanned systems, ocean drones, fishery survey, weather forecasting, Bering Sea, hurricane modeling
Experimental Weekly Sargassum Inundation Report (SIR v1.2) By the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the University of South Florida (USF)
Caribbean Ocean Observing System (CARICOOS)
Published: 19 June 2020
Since 2011, Sargassum blooms have posed growing threats in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. The Sargassum Inundation Reports (SIR) use satellite data to predict coastal inundation risk levels, helping guide environmental and public health responses.
Keywords: Sargassum, inundation risk, AFAI, NOAA, USF, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea
