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TAMPA (FOX 13) – The red tide persists near both sides of Florida, devastating marine life and harming beach trades. Local researchers now claim to have the data needed to understand why this proliferation of algae is so severe.
For about three and a half weeks, a yellow, torpedo-shaped autonomous robotic glider was traveling to learn more about the red tide.
Scientists from the USF Navy and the FWC launched the ship near Clearwater Beach at the end of August. The submarine vessel followed a route to map an area believed to cause a proliferation of red tides.
"It will simply go up and down on its own in a preprogrammed way, sampling the water from the surface to the bottom along its path," explained Dr. Robert Weisberg, professor of physical oceanography at the University of California. USF.
Glider sensors have detected an increase in salt content, colder waters, high levels of chlorophyll and very little oxygen. According to Weisberg, the data indicate that tides of red tide develop along the seabed and not along the shoreline.
"The water might seem perfectly clear on the surface, but there could be high concentrations of red tide at the bottom of the water," Weisberg said.
In fact, shortly after the deployment of the robot, the red tide was discovered in high concentration on the beaches of Pinellas County.
Scientists say this red tide is the worst that the sun has known for more than a decade. The proliferation of algae, a natural phenomenon, is deadly for marine life and can irritate people's skin and lungs.
"Most of what really controls the ocean does not happen at the top, it actually happens basically," Weisberg said.
He tells us that it is essential that such tests be conducted regularly so that scientists learn more about the coastal ocean and the actual functioning of the red tide.
"Knowing how the red tide originates, how to live it, at least allows us to understand what we could or could not do," said Weisberg.
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