Background When algae grows rapidly and excessively, it is called a “bloom.” Algal blooms can produce toxins invisible to the naked eye. These blooms are harmful because the highly potent toxins of some algae species can cause direct harm to people, animals, fish, and ecosystems. They can also cause indirect harm, such as when blooms decompose and remove oxygen from the water (hypoxia), suffocating fish and other aquatic life. HABs can occur not only in freshwater, but in marine ecosystems as well. HAB toxins can contaminate drinking water, cause skin and respiratory irritation, and even lead to illness or death after eating contaminated seafood. They can be fatal to pets, livestock, and dry-land wildlife, and decimate fish populations. Because of the multifaceted nature of the harm caused by HABs, there is a massive opportunity for companies who want to partner with technical experts to help communities and local industries solve the challenges HABs present. Summary of the Invention HABMapper is a sensor that uses data from hundreds of wavelengths of light to locate or identify harmful algal blooms. It can be mounted on drones or other mobile platforms that lets users immediately detect the presence, location, and quantity of harmful or toxic algae in water near beaches or other bodies of water. A drone can fly around a body of water with a HABMapper attached, and the HABMapper will identify the presence of blooms that pose a risk. Small and self-contained, it can be deployed by hand, on a boat, or on a vehicle, and provides real-time HAB information that improves targeted water sampling and leads to better forecasts of human health risk. Licensing Information NOAA is seeking qualified licensees to manufacture and sell this technology, which is patent pending in the United States. Interested parties should contact the NOAA TPO at noaa.t2@noaa.gov for more information.
