Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)

PRESENT	FUTURE	CONFIDENCE
HABs have increased in some areas of the north-east Atlantic over the past 50 years, as the seas around the British Isles have become warmer, especially since the mid-1980s. There is regional variability within this trend and some places, such as the east coast of Britain, have experienced reduced incidences of HABs	Potential increase in HABs associated with heavy rainfall and with high river discharges. Reduced mixing of the water column (increased stratification) would favour many HAB-causing species.	MEDIUM

PRESENT

FUTURE

CONFIDENCE

HABs have increased in some areas of the north-east Atlantic over the past 50 years, as the seas around the British Isles have become warmer, especially since the mid-1980s.

There is regional variability within this trend and some places, such as the east coast of Britain, have experienced reduced incidences of HABs

Potential increase in HABs associated with heavy rainfall and with high river discharges.

Reduced mixing of the water column (increased stratification) would favour many HAB-causing species.

MEDIUM

Full reports from Contributing Scientists

MCCIP derived these headlines from the information supplied in the following reports, which provide a more comprehensive review of scientific understanding in this field.

Executive summaries

SAHFOS (Philip C. Reid)

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SAHFOS (Philip C. Reid), PDF, 25 KB

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