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Updates and enhancements to USEPA’s CyANWeb web application for early detection of harmful algal blooms to protect human health in recreational waters
Citation:
Johnston, JohnM, D. Smith, K. Wolfe, AND R. Parmar. Updates and enhancements to USEPA’s CyANWeb web application for early detection of harmful algal blooms to protect human health in recreational waters. iEMSs 2022, Brussels, BELGIUM, July 04 - 08, 2022.
Impact/Purpose:
The occurrence of HABs in lakes and coastal waters results from complex interactions among physical, chemical, biological, hydrological, and meteorological conditions. ORD is utilizing monitoring, machine learning, and analytic approaches to expand our current understanding of HAB ecology, biological, and environmental drivers. The goal is to better understand the complex ecology of HABs and therefore be able to assess which lakes and coastal waters have the greatest vulnerability to blooms and better understand the environmental drivers of these blooms. Hence, we will be able to more accurately calculate bloom threats under present day conditions and to evaluate deviations expected under climate and land use change scenarios. In addition to data synthesis and statistical inference, ORD research will focus on novel data collection approaches.
Description:
The Cyanobacteria Assessment Network (CyAN) is a multi-agency (NASA, USGS, NOAA, and USEPA) project to support the safe public use of U.S. lakes and reservoirs and includes delivery of satellite images of algal blooms via a web-based application developed and hosted by the USEPA. CyANWeb is usable on most internet-connected devices via a web browser and operational on any device operating system platform. CyANWeb uses the JavaScript Angular web framework for cross-platform functionality and mirrors the functionality of the CyAN Android mobile application released in 2019. Cyanobacterial images are derived from the European Space Agency’s Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellite Ocean and Land Colour Instruments (OLCI). The spatial extent covers the continental U.S. at 300 m resolution and represents the weekly maximum value of cyanobacteria for over 2,370 large lakes and reservoirs. Satellite imagery is updated weekly, with the prior week of data available mid-current week, to provide a near-real time view of emerging blooms at user selected areas of interest. Enhancements include aggregate cyanobacterial response statistics by waterbody, weekly report generation, and user-requested cyanobacteria index (CI, count) data for locations of interest.
