1. RED TIDE 2000 CAN WE PREDICT RED TIDES IN THE WESTERN GULF OF MEXICO ?
Dr. Sonia C. Gallegos Dr. Melba M. Crawford Dr. Xiaogang Chen
Naval Research Lab University of Texas at Austin Sverdrup Technology Inc.
Stennis Space Center Center for Space Research Advanced System Group
Mississippi Austin, Texas Mississippi 39529

3. Initiation site of red tide 2000 as observed by SeaWIFS on 17 Aug 2000

4. Red Tide 2000 as observed by SeaWiFS on 18 September 2000

5. RED TIDE 2000
Loop Current 1997

6. SEA SURFACE HEIGHT FROM ERS-2

7. RED TIDE 2000
Monthly probability of Loop Current position, 1998

8. RED TIDE 2000
Monthly probability of Loop Current position, 2000

9. RED TIDE 2000
Loop Current occurrences in NW GOM
Grid distribution

10. RED TIDE 2000
Sea Surface High

11. RED TIDE 2000 Area of 0-isopleth intrusion over
SW Texas continental shelf
Grid distribution

12. RED TIDE 2000
Monthly probability of Loop Current position, 1996

13. RED TIDE 2000
Monthly probability of Loop Current position, 1993

14. RED TIDE 2000
Loop Current occurrences in NE GOM
Grid distribution

15. RED TIDE 2000
Monthly probability of Loop Current position, 1994

16. RED TIDE 2000
SUMMARY
The displacements of the Loop current appear to play a role in all the red tide
occurrences in the West, East and North Gulf of Mexico.
Red tides appear occur when the LC or the fringes of an associated eddy displace over the
continental shelf during the Summer months.
3. Red tides occur in the Western Gulf when the Western boundary of the LC crosses 87o W
4. The year-2000-red tide started at a site where the effluent of the Sabine River met the “0-5”
isopleths in ERS-2 data during the first 15 days of July 2000.
5. Red tide occurrences in other years appear to occur at sites where ”0-5” isopleths met river
outflows over the continental shelf during the Summer months.
6. A statistical automated forecasting system can be developed utilizing the data and findings
from this work for use by the TPWD.