Alberta scientists tracking blue-green algae blooms using satellite imagery | 24CA News

A crew of consultants is working to higher perceive the unfold of blue-green algae in Alberta lakes by combining satellite tv for pc expertise with near-simultaneous water sampling.

The challenge, funded by means of Alberta Innovates, is a collaboration between a number of teams, together with Alberta Lake Management Society (ALMS), the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute (ABMI), and researcher Rolf Vinebrooke from the University of Alberta.

Six Alberta lakes are being monitored for the challenge — Pigeon Lake, Sylvan Lake, Wabamun Lake, Nakamun Lake, Ethel Lake and Lac la Biche — although there may be hope that the information may also help create a mannequin or algorithm that may be utilized to different lakes.

When a satellite tv for pc passes over the lake, water samples are collected on the similar time to offer a clearer image of the algae content material.

Unlike earlier strategies of water sampling, which aren’t at all times processed in a well timed method, satellite tv for pc imagery may also help present a greater general image of what is occurring in a lake.

“Blue-green algal blooms can be very, very dynamic,” stated Vinebrooke, a professor within the U of A’s division of organic sciences. 

“They can be there one day and gone the next … satellite imagery data, once we’ve got a ground truth and the algorithms constructed, can provide near real-time estimates of how bad the blooms are on a variety of different lakes.”

Blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, can kind on slow-moving or stagnant water. The blooms can produce toxins which are dangerous to people, pets and wildlife. The progress of the algae could be pushed by water wealthy in nitrogen and phosphorus.

There are presently dozens of cyanobacteria warnings issued by Alberta Health Services for lakes within the province.

The researchers imagine the data they collect shall be necessary for lake administration associations to get a greater understanding of what is going on on, and use that perception for phosphorus administration applications to assist scale back the blooms.

Vinebrooke stated that when scientists have sufficient information, they can return and evaluate the earlier satellite tv for pc photographs and have a extra full understanding of what the blooms within the lake and be capable to observe developments.

“There is a long-standing question, I think, in the minds of a lot of people in Alberta and across North America, and that is whether or not these harmful algal blooms are increasing in frequency,” he stated. “Or is it just that they appear to be, because people are much more environmentally aware generally, as a public?

“This lets you reply that query quantitatively.”

Clear picture

Fiona Gregory from ABMI said it’s been difficult for researchers to track trends due to a lack of continuous data.

Gregory is the lead of the earth observation analysis part of the project. She takes the results from the lake sampling program and compares them with the satellite imagery, working out what the relationship is and then applying the model to satellite imagery.

“At greatest the sampling is just like a snapshot in time,” Gregory said. “It can solely be carried out, possibly a number of occasions a 12 months, however with the satellite tv for pc modelling, we hope to see what is going on on virtually on a regular basis all through the season.”

Sentinel-2 satellite

While the initiative may seem straightforward, there are some logistical challenges.

The satellite used for the project doesn’t pass over Alberta every day, so researchers and volunteers have a relatively narrow window to capture the data.

“The satellite tv for pc that we’re utilizing is known as the Sentinel-2 satellite tv for pc, and this passes over about each 5 days,” said Bradley Peter, executive director of ALMS.

“And so we’re timing our sampling of the lake and that is typically with volunteers, companions who’re driving the boat. We’re co-ordinating all of these schedules to be on the lake.”

Peter noted the sampling has to be done on a clear day, without too many clouds or smoke to muddle the images. 

Eventually, the data will be available through an online mapping application. The public will be able to access the information for the six lakes, and possibly other lakes in Alberta, and get accurate information about the algae blooms.

The project uses Google Earth Engine, which allows the researchers to access and process large amounts of satellite imagery at scale.

The initiative comes after the success of a similar pilot project that started in 2019 that monitored Pigeon Lake, which has its data already available online. The map shows the concentration of chlorophyll-a, which is found in algae.

Warnings about algal blooms 

AHS advises that individuals and pets ought to keep away from all contact with water the place a blue-green algae advisory is in place. Cyanobacteria could make individuals sick, and could be deadly to pets.

Those who come in touch or ingest blue-green algae can expertise pores and skin irritation, sore throat, swollen lips, fever, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

As of Aug. 25, AHS has advisories in place for the next lakes:

• Pigeon Lake.
• Haunted Lake.
• Wizard Lake.
• Alix Lake.
• Buck Lake.
• Moonshine Lake.
• Bonnie Lake.
• Winagami Lake.
• Crow Lake.
• Wabamun Lake.
• Matchayaw (Devil’s) Lake.
• Fork Lake.
• Garner Lake.
• Floatingstone Lake.
• Wapasu Lake.
• Goose Lake.
• Hastings Lake.
• Kehewin Lake. 
• Elinor Lake.
• Reesor Lake.
• Nakamun Lake.
• Sturgeon Lake.
• Hutch Lake.
• Vermilion Lake.
• Stoney Lake.
• Eagle Lake.
• Square Lake.
• Lac Ste. Anne.
• Thunder Lake.
• Astotin Lake.
• Little Fish Lake.
• Severn Dam Reservoir.
• Lac la Biche.
• Isle Lake.
• Enchant Municipal Park.
• Lower Therien Lake.
• Gregoire Lake.
• Twin Valley Reservoir.
• Lessard Lake.
• Steele Lake.
• Skeleton Lake.
• Baptiste Lake.
• Pine Lake.
• Moose Lake.
• Muriel Lake.