Monitoring algal blooms

The incidence of harmful algal blooms appears to be increasing in European and Asian waters, and along the Atlantic coast. The data available for this observation, however, is patchy, and data for earlier periods is completely non-existent. The traditional technique to identify and monitor phytoplankton includes microscopic examination of water samples collected aboard research vessels. The information provided by this methodology is often limited in temporal and spatial scope because of the limitations of shipboard sampling and the enormous amounts of time and effort which are involved in analyzing the samples. New techniques are required to furnish appropriate information in order to identify and monitor algal blooms. This book explores these new technologies in depth.