July 10, 2009 - Gulf Challenger Update



	Enlarge Image Alexandrium cell counts from red water sighting off Portsmouth, NH, July 10, 2009. (WHOI / D. Anderson laboratory.)

Hi all,

Please see attached map for an update on the cell counts from the red water sightings last Friday off Portsmouth, NH. The counts ranged from about 25,000/L in "normal" water all the way up to 1.7 million cells/L in reddish brown water. That high number is believed to be a record cell count for the western Gulf of Maine. The red water count data also suggests that when the cell numbers are > 125,000 cells/L, discoloration of the water is possible.

Please see the picture of a 2L sample on a sieve that shows how concentrated Alexandrium fundyense was last Friday. Jeff Kennedy from Massachusetts DMF also reported red water off the Merrimack River (1-3nm offshore). Have there been other sightings? If so, please pass the information along to the list as we will be back out sampling this Sunday through Thurs and could use that information to help locate additional stations.

Regards,

Bruce Keafer

Last updated: January 22, 2013