Harmful Algal Bloom Forecasting Branch Ocean Color Satellite Imagery Processing Guidelines, 2020 Update

This technical memo describes (1) the most used level 3 products produced by the HAB-FB group, (2) the algorithms employed, and (3) the various setting, parameters, flags, etc. used by SAPS to generate each product. This suite of products is used for a variety of applications. These include assessing cyanobacterial blooms in Lake Erie and other water bodies in collaboration with the U.S. EPA and production of NOAA’s Lake Erie HAB Operational Forecast System. Other products support interests by numerous states, including Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Ohio, and California in detecting blooms, and products as well as supporting NOAA’s Office of Protected Species, and some of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Science Centers.