Red tide evolution in the Mazatlán Bay area from remotely sensed sea surface temperatures

Abstract

The evolution of a red tide episode in Mazatlán Bay, Mexico, during February 1996 is described from images of sea surface temperatures (SST), obtained from the advanced very high resolution radiometer (AVHRR). An initial nearshore high surface temperature of 24°C was followed by a sharp decrease of 2.5°C due to wind cooling. Finally, a warmer condition was re-established at the nearshore region. The sequence of satellite images showed potential for identifying short-term oceanic processes responsible for the development and behaviour of red tides. The 1.1-km spatial resolution of the AVHRR was adequate for latitudes around 23° N.

Keywords

• Red tides
• sea surface temperature
• AVHRR imagery.