Sargassum monitoring (last 7-days cumulative AFAI (Alternative Floating Algae Index))

The AFAI (Alternative Floating Algae Index) is generated by the University of South Florida (USF) and is used for the monitoring of Sargassum. Sargassum is a type of floating brown alga, commonly called “seaweed.” These alga float at the sea surface, where they can aggregate to form large mats in the open ocean. Historically, Sargassum was found within the Gulf of Mexico and western North Atlantic, with the majority aggregating in the Sargasso Sea. In 2011 the geographic range expanded, and massive amounts of Sargassum began washing ashore along islands throughout the Caribbean Sea. Although Sargassum provides habitat, food, protection, and breeding grounds for hundreds of diverse marine species, the sudden occurrence of an unprecedented amount of this floating algae can disrupt shipping, tourism, fishing, and coastal ecosystems.

The data is displayed in near-real time as 7 days cumulative value of the index and is sourced from the Caribbean/Gulf of Mexico Node Physical Oceanography Division Ocean Chemistry and Ecosystems Division [https://cwcgom.aoml.noaa.gov/cgom/OceanViewer/] through WMS.

An Experimental Weekly Sargassum Inundation Report (SIR v1.2) is published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the University of South Florida (USF) at this address [https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/phod/sargassum_inundation_report/index.php] on the basis of the AFAI index.

Data and Resources

This dataset has no data

Additional Info

Field	Value
Source	https://app.mapx.org/static.html?views=MX-NLUOK-UU59P-6F781&zoomToViews=true#JAAc6
Author	UNEP/GRID-Geneva
Maintainer	UNEP/GRID-Geneva
Last Updated	December 7, 2022, 08:17 (UTC)
Created	December 7, 2022, 08:17 (UTC)
GUID	MX-NLUOK-UU59P-6F781
Issued	2022-03-23 16:34:31
Language	EN
Modified	2022-05-09 17:33:53
Publisher email	info@mapx.org
Publisher name	UNEP/GRID-Geneva
Theme	Web Map
data_type	geospatial
keywords_m49	WLD
projects_description	This project was set up in the frame of the implementation of the Cartagena Convention Secretariat’s 2020/2021 work plan and budget approved by the Sixteenth Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region held from July 28-30, 2021
projects_id	MX-L2W-HWZ-RIC-LM1-Y0V
projects_title	Caribbean Sea and Wider Caribbean Region
range_end_at_year	2022
range_start_at_year	2022
source_abstract	The AFAI (Alternative Floating Algae Index) is generated by the University of South Florida (USF) and is used for the monitoring of Sargassum. Sargassum is a type of floating brown alga, commonly called “seaweed.” These alga float at the sea surface, where they can aggregate to form large mats in the open ocean. Historically, Sargassum was found within the Gulf of Mexico and western North Atlantic, with the majority aggregating in the Sargasso Sea. In 2011 the geographic range expanded, and massive amounts of Sargassum began washing ashore along islands throughout the Caribbean Sea. Although Sargassum provides habitat, food, protection, and breeding grounds for hundreds of diverse marine species, the sudden occurrence of an unprecedented amount of this floating algae can disrupt shipping, tourism, fishing, and coastal ecosystems. The data is displayed in near-real time as 7 days cumulative value of the index and is sourced from the Caribbean/Gulf of Mexico Node Physical Oceanography Division Ocean Chemistry and Ecosystems Division [https://cwcgom.aoml.noaa.gov/cgom/OceanViewer/] through WMS. An Experimental Weekly Sargassum Inundation Report (SIR v1.2) is published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the University of South Florida (USF) at this address [https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/phod/sargassum_inundation_report/index.php] on the basis of the AFAI index.
source_title	Sargassum monitoring (last 7-days cumulative AFAI (Alternative Floating Algae Index))
spatial	WLD