What happened
NOAA's Centre for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR), in collaboration with the University of South Florida, deployed AI across over one million satellite images from 2003 to 2023. This initiative detected and quantified floating seaweed and phytoplankton globally, encompassing the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans, plus marginal seas. The effort produced the first complete worldwide map of floating algae, revealing blooms spanning nearly 44 million square kilometres, more than four times the size of the United States. This expands on a 2019 study that first provided a global qualitative view of floating algae.
Why it matters
Mapping global algae blooms across 44 million square kilometres provides scientists with a precise understanding of marine plant growth's spatial extent and long-term changes. This AI-driven analysis of satellite data identifies areas where harmful blooms will negatively impact tourism, commercial activities, and fishing economies earlier. Procurement teams and local governments can now anticipate and mitigate economic disruption from these widespread marine events.
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