Red Tide

[Cookiely]

Have you ever heard if there is a correlation between Red Tide and active hurricane seasons. I watched a program yesterday and they said that it started in January which was extremely unusual and it is a very virulent strain of algae. Could this have any relation to the high SST's? They were hoping and praying that Dennis would help but it didn't.

[alicia-w]

I dont know about the science of it, but I do know first hand that there is a connection in at least a couple of storms that have hit here. After things calmed down a bit, my husband and I walked the beach on two separate occasions and thought our eyes were stinging due to blowing sand or salt in the air, but it was red tide. boy, we were sick for several days. NASTY STUFF!! Another reason to stay off the beaches after a storm.

[alicia-w]

Hurricane Dennis affects red tide along Gulf beaches
Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Hurricane Dennis made the red tide situation better in some places, worse in others.

Pinellas County's Fort DeSoto Beach was ranked as the best beach in the country this year.

But recently the normally pristine sand was a polluted paradise, a victim of red tide.

Hurricane Dennis stirred up the red tide situation along Gulf beaches. The Fish and Wildlife Research Institute says the most recent results show counts are higher at the mouth of Tampa Bay near Fort DeSoto, but in other tested spots, like Indian Rocks Beach, the counts are lower than in previous weeks.

But a Fort DeSoto park supervisor says the red time situation at the park was worse before the storm.

A Jacksonville family heard about red tide at the park, and that kept them from visiting the park earlier.

"On the radio, and on the TV and on the internet," said Pam Morgan, "saying how it smells and how people are having a hard time breathing."

The Morgans postponed their trip by a couple of weeks, and they say right now it's not so bad at the park. That may be because Fort DeSoto cleans the fish kill daily, while red tide slowly dies.

The Fish and Wildlife Research Institute tested other areas along the Gulf on Wednesday. Those results are expected back in the next few days.

http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2005/7/13/108058.html

http://synergyx.tacc.utexas.edu/redtide_main.html

[jabber]

Hurricane Dennis affects red tide along Gulf beaches
Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Hurricane Dennis made the red tide situation better in some places, worse in others.

Pinellas County's Fort DeSoto Beach was ranked as the best beach in the country this year.

But recently the normally pristine sand was a polluted paradise, a victim of red tide.

Hurricane Dennis stirred up the red tide situation along Gulf beaches. The Fish and Wildlife Research Institute says the most recent results show counts are higher at the mouth of Tampa Bay near Fort DeSoto, but in other tested spots, like Indian Rocks Beach, the counts are lower than in previous weeks.

But a Fort DeSoto park supervisor says the red time situation at the park was worse before the storm.

A Jacksonville family heard about red tide at the park, and that kept them from visiting the park earlier.

"On the radio, and on the TV and on the internet," said Pam Morgan, "saying how it smells and how people are having a hard time breathing."

The Morgans postponed their trip by a couple of weeks, and they say right now it's not so bad at the park. That may be because Fort DeSoto cleans the fish kill daily, while red tide slowly dies.

The Fish and Wildlife Research Institute tested other areas along the Gulf on Wednesday. Those results are expected back in the next few days.

http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2005/7/13/108058.html

http://synergyx.tacc.utexas.edu/redtide_main.html

Vacationed at Indian Rocks Beach a couple weeks ago and it was really bad. Tons of dead fish. Everyday a crew would come by picking up the fish, digging a hole, dumping the fish, all down the beach. The lung irritaion started about 300 yards from the beach. You know you are in trouble when everyong working at the beach has masks on

[alicia-w]

[jasons2k]

I don't know too much about this, but in general I think:

Higher SST = higher risk of red tide
Higher SST = more active season

but I don't think red tide itself has any effect; it's the increase in SST

[hicksta]

i had one a few weeks back. went outside to go fish. and the bay was full of dead shad. havent caught anything since