Long-Term Trends in Harmful Algal Blooms and Key Environmental Variables off Southwest-Central Florida

Authors

• Zayna Sampson, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
• Digna Rueda Roa, University of South Florida
• Lilly Verrill, University of South Florida
• F. Muller-Karger, University of South Florida

Document Type

Poster Session

Publication Date

1-13-2026

Abstract

• We analyzed long-term trends in satellite Sea Surface Temperature (SST), Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), and Algal Bloom Index (ABI). We compared them with in-situ Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB) counts in Southwest-Central Florida.
• Our statistics were based on anomalies to remove the seasonal signal, making it easier to observe inter-annual changes.
• The region experienced significant long-term increases in SST, with offshore areas warming faster than nearshore (offshore: >0.06 °C/year, close to shore: <0.05 °C/year).
• Both Chl-a and ABI showed weak but significant long-term decreases offshore.
• There were no significant correlations between HAB and satellite anomalies of SST, Chl-a, or ABI (p>0.1).

Rights Information

Terms of use for work posted in Scholar Commons.

Scholar Commons Citation

Sampson, Zayna; Rueda Roa, Digna; Verrill, Lilly; and Muller-Karger, F., "Long-Term Trends in Harmful Algal Blooms and Key Environmental Variables off Southwest-Central Florida" (2026). Making Waves REU. 13.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/making-waves_reu/13