Are Red Tides Correlated to Spring-Neap Tidal Mixing?: Use Of A Historical Record to Test Mechanisms Responsible for Dinoflagellate Blooms

Abstract

An examination is made of the relationship between the occurrence of dinoflagellate red tides and spring neap tides. Data are discussed according to specific coastal regions and particular species responsible for the blooms. Blooms are tabulated with respect to the phase of the moon as well as tidal range. The tides were not found to be well correlated with either lunar phases or tidal range. Results from the Southern California Bight indicate a lunar cycle of stratification and destratification; large negative temperature anomalies are also associated with particular phases of the lunar cycle.