On a Long Island cable channel, Bill Korbel offers gives his meteorology forecast as well as an outlook report for toxic algae. Usually, meteorologists don't give algae reports as part of their standard weather forecast. Korbel even admitted it was not something he learned when he was going to school. However, scientists say that in the near future, algae reports could become as common as weather forecasts.
High toxic algal blooms can trigger serious health effects. Two years ago residents in Ohio were banned from drinking tap water when toxic algae bloomed in Lake Erie and California residents were advised not to eat crabs contaminated with toxic algae. Sophisticated sensors can be deployed to give warnings when toxic algae levels are dangerously high.
In 2014, Congress reauthorized the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act originally passed in 1998. The problem is the act did not provide funding only signaled the need for research and the funding that would be used to conduct the research decreased by 45% from five years ago. This means less money for shorelines being monitored for algae.
Scientists say a total of 20 sensors are needed around the country at a cost of seven million dollars. The only sensors in use right now for an extended period of time are in the Gulf of Mexico. However, funding is needed not only for sensors but also for research to understand more about the algal bloom and the health effects they have.
Obama's 2016 fiscal year budget called for $13 million for research pertaining to harmful agal blooms. Still, algal blooms are flourishing all over the country at such a rapid rate that, money is not enough.
It would literally be a lifesaver to know about algal bloom reports.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/19/science/a-dreaded-forecast-for-our-times-algae-and-lots-of-it.html
http://www.noaa.gov/what-is-harmful-algal-bloom
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