Harmful Algal Blooms Detection Challenge: NASA Offers $12,000 To Detect, Classify Severity of Cyanobacteria

NASA is offering a prize for those who can help them find harmful algal blooms.

NASA Offers Harmful Algal Bloom Detection Challenge

The space agency encourages individuals to join them in detecting algal blooms in inland water bodies, according to Driven Data. Cyanobacteria are a significant category of HABs found in the environment.

HABs threaten marine ecosystems because they prevent sunlight and oxygen from reaching the water and produce harmful toxins to humans and animals.

In most cases, manual water sampling, also known as "in situ" sampling, is utilized to perform cyanobacteria monitoring in inland water bodies. The results are reliable, but the process is laborious, time-consuming, and difficult to carry out continuously.

The challenge's objective is to use satellite imagery to identify and categorize the severity of cyanobacteria blooms in inland water bodies. The resulting algorithm will assist water quality managers in more effectively allocating resources for in-situ sampling and making decisions regarding public health warnings for essential resources such as drinking water reservoirs.

In the end, improved accuracy and timeliness in the detection of algal blooms contribute to protecting the human and marine life populations that depend on the water bodies in question for their safety and well-being.

Prizes for NASA's 'Tick Tick Bloom'

NASA named the challenge "Tick Tick Bloom", and it comes with pretty attractive prizes. Participants will only study photos of inland water bodies, find algal blooms and classify them based on severity.

The first prize will get $12,000. The second and third winners will get $9,000 and $6,000, respectively.

There are also first and second prize winners, who will receive $2,000 and $1,000, respectively.

What are Algal Blooms?

Algal blooms are mss growth of microscopic algae or phytoplankton that are usually the result of an influx of nutrients. When it occurs in inland water bodies, it can confuse the marine ecosystem because it blocks the sunlight and saps all the oxygen in the water, Newsweek reported.

The microcystins toxins produced by freshwater cyanobacteria were detected in 39 percent of lakes sampled by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2017. These toxins target the liver((hepatotoxins) and nervous system (neurotoxins).

Also, cyanobacterial algal blooms often produce toxins dangerous to humans and wildlife drinking or swimming in the water. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these toxins can be absorbed via the skin. They can also be swallowed or consumed via contaminated foods resulting in flu-like symptoms, skin irritation, abnormal breathing, gastrointestinal symptoms and paralysis.

Meanwhile, pets may experience seizures and, worse, death due to their smaller mass.

According to NOAA, algal blooms are a national concern because they not only affect the health of people and the marine ecosystem but also affect economic health, especially the coastal communities and incomes dependent on fishing or tourism.

Climate change and nutrient pollution cause HABs to occur more often, even in previously unaffected locations. NOAA is leading the research to understand HABs and why blooms form. They also aim to improve the detection and forecasting of the said seasonal events.

Check out more news and information on Algae in Science Times.