Ulva prolifera Monitoring study in the Yellow Sea from Multi-Temporal Remote Sensing Images

Multi-temporal Moderate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) remote sensing images were used to monitor the massive blooms of floating green tide algae Ulva prolifera in the midwest of Yellow Sea (YS). In addition, from the marine environment elements of sea surface temperature(SST) and sea surface wind field, the growth and drift characteristic of U. Prolifera were studied based on MODIS thermal infrared channel SST data and Windsat wind field data. In May 2014, U. Prolifera accumulation areas were first found in central YS north of Subei Bank. With summer arrival, seawater temperature of ocean surface gradually increased in YS, It provided a more suitable environment for the growth of U. Prolifera. Due to the prevailing northerly winds in central and western YS, U. Prolifera advected to the coastal waters of Shandong Peninsula, and spread to the northeastward. In late June, it had a massive bloom and reached the maximum coverage in the northern YS. The U. Prolifera drift characteristic was confirmed by the analysis on SST and sea surface wind field, and the result shows that under the environment of suitable sea surface temperature, the driving force of the prevailing sea surface wind field might be the main reason of YS U. Prolifera bloom occurrence.