You are here

Red Water - A Sentinel for Environmental Change

For several decades, massive red tides have been observed in the Columbia River estuary during late summer and early fall. Little scientific information has existed about what triggers these red water formations. Scientists at the Center for Coastal Margin Observation & Prediction (CMOP) are delving into the genetics of the red algal blooms to determine they could be used as an early warning signal for changes in the environment.

The video won a 2011 Bronze Telly award in the ‘Online Video – Nature’ category.

(Video produced by Jeff Schilling/Center for Coastal Margin Observation & Prediction)