Harmful Algae Blooms
Lab 4-Algae Image Processing
Introduction
Algae blooms continue to cause both economic and ecological harm. Tracking growth is one of the first steps necessary for management which can be achieved through image processing of satellite images. Students will learn to process images to extract biological information.
Learning Objectives
Students understand the representation of color in a computer.
Students are introduced to image processing.
Students understand the basics of representing information in computers
I Do
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We Do
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You Do
Process satellite images to calculate the density of algae blooms in Lake Anna, VA.
Algae Blooms
Algae blooms are caused by an excess of nutrients, eutrophication, that allows for the overgrowth of algae. Fertilizers, sewage waste, and pollution are all human sources of eutrophication that lead to this overgrowth. While algae grow naturally, an excess is potentially very harmful as some emit harmful toxins, create dead zones where life can not survive, and cause sickness.
The Maximum Chlorophyll Index (MCI), wavelengths measurements that detect chlorophyll, is measured by scientists via satellite imaging to detect algae growth since chlorophyll is necessary for photosynthesis.
Data Source
The Harmful Algal Bloom - Forecasting Branch (HAB-FB) takes satellite images to track algae blooms in Virginia. Use the link below view the satellite images of a lake and range of dates of your choice.
https://coastwatch.noaa.gov/cw_html/NCCOS.html
Here is the MCI satellite image of the Smithsonian Mountain Lake on 4/28/2022.
Image Processing
Image processing is used to extract information from images and has a variety applications in biology like processing images of bird eggs to look at pattern or color differences or categorizing leaf shapes by tree.
Looking at the different leaves in the image below, we may be able to see the difference, but these differences can be quantified using image processing. Looking at the bird eggs, we can also use image processing to detect changes in shapes, colors, or patterns.
