CARICOOS-Virgin Islands

Outlook of 2020 Sargassum blooms in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico* August 31st, 2020, by University of South Florida Optical Oceanography Lab

The maps below show Sargassum abundance, with warm colors representing high abundance. In August 2020, the overall Sargassum amount continued to decrease across the central Atlantic. Large amount of Sargassum was still observed in the Central West Atlantic (CWA, i.e., the region east of the Lesser Antilles in the maps below), the Central East Atlantic… Read More

Outlook of 2020 Sargassum blooms in the Caribbean Sea* July 31st, 2020, by University of South Florida Optical Oceanography Lab (huc@usf.edu)

The maps below show Sargassum abundance, with warm colors representing high abundance. In July 2020, the overall Sargassum amount decreased across the central Atlantic. This is unusual, as in previous years July often had higher amount than June. Yet large amount was still observed in July 2020 in the Central West Atlantic (CWA, i.e., the… Read More

CARICOOS needs assessment: an opportunity to expand ocean-based observations, forecasts and services in the US Caribbean region.

Identification of the existing information needs from all coastal and ocean resource users in PR and the USVI is essential in the development of the CARICOOS 5 years Strategic Plan. Collecting information about user preferences involves a formal consultation process or what’s commonly called as a “needs assessment”.  Through this process, stakeholders assist in the… Read More

Sargassum has arrived!

Sargassum is a brown algae that provides refuge, food, and breeding grounds for multiple species of crabs, fishes, sea turtles, among other species. These algae can travel long distances because it has pneumatocysts (gas-filled structures) that make it stay at the ocean surface and be transported by wind and currents. Although Sargassum has been declared… Read More

Outlook of 2020 Sargassum blooms in the Caribbean Sea- June 30th, 2020, by University of South Florida Optical Oceanography Lab

The maps below show Sargassum abundance, with warm colors representing high abundance. In June 2020, the Sargassum amount continued to increase across the central Atlantic. Large amount of Sargassum was observed in the Central West Atlantic (CWA, i.e., the region east of the Lesser Antilles in the maps below), the Central East Atlantic (CEA), and… Read More