The Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

2027 Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

January 12-15, 2027

Two Decades of Changing Green Noctiluca Blooms in the Gulf of Thailand Revealed by Satellite Observations
ID:1534 Oral Presentation

2027-01-15 11:35 (China Standard Time)

Session:Session 73 - Tipping points in marine ecosystems

Abstract
The bloom of green Noctiluca scintillans, a mixotrophic dinoflagellate, has been recognized as an increasingly important ecological phenomenon in the Gulf of Thailand, where coastal ecosystems are subject to eutrophication and climate variability. The past few years have seen the occurrence of blooms consisting of green Noctiluca extending from the upper Gulf down to the lower Gulf of Thailand, significantly increasing in intensity, raising concerns about the eventual ecological impact and change in phytoplankton community structure. However, little is known about the long-term variability and environmental drivers of these events due to the lack of continuous observations for the period of several decades. In this research, satellite measurements of ocean color over 20 years (2003-2026) were employed, together with a regionally developed satellite algal bloom detection algorithm, to create a consistent time series of the occurrence and distribution of the green Noctiluca blooms. The interannual variability, seasonal features, and long-term trends were quantified and analyzed, while their correlations with environmental parameters, including sea surface temperature, precipitation rate, river discharges, and wind regime, were also studied. Satellite observations indicate a significant interannual variability of the blooms of green Noctiluca, including their changes in frequency of occurrence, distribution area, and seasonal occurrence over the last two decades. This study provides the first long-term satellite-based assessment of green Noctiluca bloom dynamics in the Gulf of Thailand, improving our understanding of long-term ecosystem change and supporting future assessments of ecosystem resilience under increasing climatic and anthropogenic pressures.
Speaker
Jutarak Luang-on Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology

Author
Jutarak Luang-on Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology

    Important Dates

    • Jan 30

      2026

      Session / Event proposals open

    • Mar 31

      2026

      Session / Event proposals close
      (Extended to April 7)

    • Apr 30

      2026

      Session acceptance notifications

    • Apr 30

      2026

      Abstract submissions & registration open

    • Jun 30

      2026

      Abstract submissions close
      (Extended to July 21)

    • Aug 31

      2026

      Abstract acceptance notifications

    • Sep 15

      2026

      Scientific program released

    • Oct 15

      2026

      Early bird registration closes

    • Jan 12–15

      2027

      XMAS 2027