Real-time observation system for harmful algal bloom's (red tide) detection using ultrasonic acoustic system

Harmful algal blooms (HABs), or called red tide, has been damaged for a long time in coastal water of Korea South Sea. The species is Cochlodinium polykrikoides. In this study, the acoustic real-time monitoring system was developed for HABs detection, based on the acoustic scattering property of the C. polykrikoides. The observation system was mainly composed of two ultrasonic sensors (3.5 and 5.0 MHz), GPS, power board, pulser-receiver board, signal processor board, system control board, network board, and land-based control unit. The CDMA and wire/wireless internet was used for the data transfer and system control between the field system and land-based center. Based on the laboratory experiment under various conditions, we evaluated the integrated system in the field condition for last 3 years. From the laboratory and field applications, the developed real-time observation system has shown a significant utility to rapidly monitor harmful algal bloom in the coastal regions.