Marine Robots To Search For Red Tide

US - Marine scientists have a new team of robots that will aid in the quest to find out how red tide forms.

Mote Marine scientist Gary Kirkpatrick explained the ultimate goal is to find red tide early enough that it is still combatable.

"If we can find it in the early stages and it's small enough, some treatments can be possible," said Kirkpatrick.

Currently, scientists do surveys once a month but rely on luck which gives them less of a chance of finding red tide.

This summer, the robots will be released 20 miles out into the gulf where they will travel 50 miles back and forth between the Sarasota and Sanibel areas.

"They go along doing this sawtooth pattern through the water, bring in samples, and analyze for the red tide organism," said Kirkpatrick

Source: NBC2