On modelling harmful algal blooms

Abstract

Numerical analysis has been shown as an important tool in

studying the dynamics of harmful algal blooms, exploring the

causes, mechanism and prediction of red tides. In this paper,

various multivariate statistical methods and biophysical models

are reviewed in examining the roles of biological, chemical,

physical factors and biological-physical interactions in red

tides. These models have achieved some degrees of success in

describing the underlying dynamical processes. However,

relatively poor knowledge about physiological responses of bloom

species to the physical field has greatly limited the predictive

ability of existing models. The improvement of existing models

will depend on a better understanding of the physical,

physiological, and ecological processes and their interactions.