The ABDMAP (Algal Bloom Detection, Monitoring and Prediction) Concerted Action

Abstract

This paper describes the ABDMAP (Algal Bloom Detection, Monitoring And Prediction) project, which was a Concerted Action funded by the European Commission and carried out from April 1997 to March 1999. In the course of the project a number of workshops were held in various European countries. These workshops were devoted to various scientific aspects of algal blooms and, in particular, to the use of Earth observation (remote sensing) data for the study of such blooms. Great attention was given to the needs of users or potential users from the academic and research communities, from organizations with operational responsibilities for the introduction of legislation or for the monitoring of algal blooms. A state-of-the-art review of scientific knowledge and of applications of this knowledge was compiled and a number of actions were undertaken to widen the appreciation of the potential use of Earth observation (remote sensing) data for the study of algal blooms, including toxic algal blooms.