REACT: Satellite monitoring of aquatic chlorophyll-a in select Idaho and Texas waterbodies
The Remote Aquatic Chlorophyll-a Tracker (REACT) tool shows the presence of aquatic chlorophyll-a in select waterbodies in Idaho and Texas. Chlorophyll-a status can be assessed by either clicking on the map or choosing from the list below the mapper.
The presence of aquatic chlorophyll-a can indicate a harmful algal bloom (HAB). HABs are a concern in U.S. waterbodies, as toxins produced by HABs pose risks to human and animal health. To assist in monitoring algal bloom conditions, scientists at the USGS Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center and the USGS Idaho Water Science Center have developed methods to detect chlorophyll-a with satellite data.
Sites on the REACT mapper are connected to Google Earth Engine Apps that show the probability that aquatic chlorophyll-a exceeds 10 micrograms per liter. Probabilities are computed using aquatic reflectance from 10-meter Sentinel-2 satellite imagery. The Sentinel-2 imagery is acquired approximately once every 5 days.
Note: This tool indicates the presence of aquatic chlorophyll-a and should not be used to determine if a toxic cyanobacterial bloom (harmful algal bloom) is present.
