User Profile: Adnan Al-Azri

Who uses NASA Earth science data? Adnan Al-Azri, to study why periodic harmful blooms of algae occur in the Sea of Oman and Arabian Sea.
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Adnan Al-Azri, Associate Professor, Department of Marine Sciences and Fisheries, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman

Research interests: Phytoplankton ecology, long-term time series and biogeography, physical regulation of biological systems, algal blooms and phycotoxins in coastal zones, biogeochemical cycles and processes of the coastal zone and their impact on the marine food chain.

Current research focus: Al-Azri and his team are working to unlock the secrets of why periodic harmful blooms of algae, plankton, and other microorganisms are occurring in the Sea of Oman and the Arabian Sea – and what these blooms may mean for the biodiversity and industry of Oman and other Persian Gulf countries.

“Almost all the countries bordering the Persian Gulf are impacted by these blooms,” notes Al-Azri. “For Oman, these harmful algal blooms pose a unique problem as our country … is not a major producer of oil but relies on fisheries, aquaculture, and tourism for its economy. Thick blooms have also been seen to cause coral reef mortality and impact the diversity of marine life.”

Data products and tools used:

  • Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)-Aqua and Sea-Viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor (SeaWiFS) Sea Surface Temperature and Chlorophyll Concentrations. Resolution: 4 km and 9 km. Data are distributed by the Ocean Biology Distributed Active Archive Center (OB.DAAC) and are available at http://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov
  • Topography Experiment/Poseidon (TOPEX/Poseidon), Jason-1, Jason-2, Sea Surface Height Anomalies (merged data products). Data are distributed by the Physical Oceanography DAAC (PO.DAAC) and are available at http://podaac.jpl.nasa.gov
  • Time series analysis and visualization of satellite data through the Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC) Giovanni interactive data browser. Giovanni may be accessed at http://disc.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/giovanni

“We use NASA’s ocean color chlorophyll products to routinely study the evolution of these blooms and track their movement along the coast,” notes Al-Azri.

Research findings: From an analysis of satellite sensor data and data collected at research stations along the coast of Oman, Al-Azri discovered that blooms caused by one species of harmful algae (Cochlodinium polykrikoides) are being triggered by low oxygen and nutrient-rich water brought to the surface by cyclonic eddies. In addition, it appears that human activities coupled with the unique oceanographic features of the Sea of Oman and the Arabian Sea also are contributing to the expansion of these blooms.

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