National Ocean Service

About: National Ocean Service is a government organization based out in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Algal bloom & Population. The organization has 500 authors who have published 643 publications receiving 46096 citations.

Use of biosensors for the detection of marine toxins.

Abstract: Increasing occurrences of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the ocean are a major concern for countries around the globe, and with strong links between HABs and climate change and eutrophication, the occurrences are only set to increase. Of particular concern with regard to HABs is the presence of toxin-producing algae. Six major marine biotoxin groups are associated with HABs. Ingestion of such toxins via contaminated shellfish, fish, or other potential vectors, can lead to intoxication syndromes with moderate to severe symptoms, including death in extreme cases. There are also major economic implications associated with the diverse effects of marine biotoxins and HABs. Thus, effective monitoring programmes are required to manage and mitigate their detrimental global effect. However, currently legislated detection methods are labour-intensive, expensive and relatively slow. The growing field of biosensor diagnostic devices is an exciting area that has the potential to produce robust, easy-to-use, cost-effective, rapid and accurate detection methods for marine biotoxins and HABs. This review discusses recently developed biosensor assays that target marine biotoxins and their microbial producers, both in harvested fish/shellfish samples and in the open ocean. The effective deployment of such biosensor platforms could address the pressing need for improved monitoring of HABs and marine biotoxins, and could help to reduce their global economic impact.

Current velocity measurements using acoustic Doppler backscatter: A review

Abstract: Acoustic Doppler backscattering techniques have been exploited for measuring water velocity for nearly 40 years. Although most early applications centered on measuring ship speed, much work has been done during the last 20 years to adapt the techniques to measure oceanic velocity fields. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the work that has been done and to discuss the state of acoustic Doppler technology.

System Design And Performance Factors For Airborne Laser Hydrography

Abstract: Methods are being sought to improve the efficiency of shallow-water hydrography. Reductions in cost, manpower, and data collection time are desired. Studies have indicated that airborne laser hydrography has the potential to provide five-fold reductions in cost and manpower requirements over conventional launch-based sonar systems, while at the same time increasing productivity and adding rapid response reconaissance capability. Analyses have shown that typical penetration depths are adequate in many coastal waters where extensive survey requirements now exist. The critical performance factor is depth measurement accuracy. Airborne laser hydrography is prone to a number of depth measurement error sources whose net magnitude could exceed standards if not carefully constrained by restricting system design and operational parameters. The interrelationships and compromises among these parameters necessary to meet operational requirements and goals are discussed in detail.

Toxicity of sediment associated PAHs to the estuarine crustaceans, Palaemonetes pugio and Amphiascus tenuiremis

Abstract: Toxicity of Sediment Associated PAHs to the Estuarine Crustaceans, Palaemonetes pugio and Amphiascus tenuiremis E. F. Wirth, M. H. Fulton, G. T. Chandler, P. B. Key, G. I, Scott 1 USDC, NOAA, National Ocean Service, Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research at Charleston, 219 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412, USA 2 Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA