A gigantic swath of seaweed, some 8,000 kilometers wide and stretching almost the entire width of the Atlantic Ocean, is heading for the coast of Florida. Even from space, the clumps of brown algae (also called sargassum, ed.) are clearly visible…
The cluster of brown algae is about twice as wide as the United States, according to NBC News, and is currently located between the Gulf of Mexico and West Africa. In the open sea, the algae are harmless and even beneficial to the marine ecosystem, as they provide habitat for fish and absorb carbon dioxide (CO₂).
But as masses of the sargassum algae — a brown, branched, filamentous seaweed that gives the water a muddy color — approach shore, they rob underwater flora and fauna of much-needed sunlight. Moreover, if they rot on the beaches, they have a negative impact on the water and air quality there. Because the algae emit hydrogen sulfide, which promotes respiratory problems.
Algae plague threatens to flood beaches
Seaweed appears on Florida beaches almost every year. But in recent years, the plague has only gotten worse. Scientists are now warning that Florida’s beaches could soon be overrun with seaweed. “It’s incredible,” Brian LaPointe, a researcher at Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in Fort Pierce, told NBC News. “What we see on the satellite images does not bode well for a clean beach year.”
LaPointe, who has studied algal blooms for decades, reports that beaches in the Florida Keys, a chain of more than 200 coral islands off the southern tip of the Sunshine State, have already been affected. Warnings have been issued in parts of Mexico to prepare for seaweed (pictured below) that can build up to a meter high on the shore.
Researcher: “Could threaten critical infrastructure”
Not only does the brown plant material look unattractive, it can also get caught in the ramps of ships and boats. “Even if it’s only in coastal waters, it can block inlet valves for power plants or desalination plants, marinas can be completely flooded with it,” warns Brian Barnes of the University of South Florida. “It can really threaten critical infrastructure.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
