Giant seaweed blob twice the width of the US takes aim at Florida

[Scott]

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Marine scientists are tracking a 5,000-mile-wide seaweed bloom that is so large, it can be seen from space.

 

These sargassum blooms are nothing new, but scientists say this one could be the largest in history. At last check, it was heading toward Florida’s Gulf coast.

 

 

The thick mat of algae drifts between the Atlantic coast of Africa and the Gulf of Mexico, providing habitat for marine life and absorbing carbon dioxide, but it can also wreak havoc when when it gets closer to shore. It blocks light from reaching coral and negatively impacts air and water quality as it decomposes.

 

https://thehill.com/homenews/3896298-giant-seaweed-blob-twice-the-width-of-the-us-takes-aim-at-florida/

[Tug]

I sincerely hope it beaches itself at mara largo and stinks to high heaven just like the former guy ???? 

[liddelljohn]

Like an old SF B movie but I hope the Green Blob wins

[Mac Mickmanus]

16 minutes ago, Tug said:

I’d love to but as long as he still remains a threat to my country I will always be aware if him thank you 

I am pleased that I dont have someone like that in my life , someone who I keep thinking about , it must be rather unpleasant being so obsessed with a person that you think of him whilst reading a story about sea weed

[Jingthing]

The blob is woke; it's going to Florida to die. 

[spidermike007]

Florida is facing many problems. Perhaps the green blob is coming to rescue the state. 

[Tug]

2 hours ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

I am pleased that I dont have someone like that in my life , someone who I keep thinking about , it must be rather unpleasant being so obsessed with a person that you think of him whilst reading a story about sea weed

Then why pray tell do you continue to bring it up?

[Bkk Brian]

Can DeSantis recruit a private Navy, he's getting his own army so why not? The blob patrol..........

[Chomper Higgot]

Maybe the Blob could stand against DeDantis.

 

It would be nice to see him defeated by a Green Candidate.

[lockyv7]

seaweed makes great fertilizer ????‍♂️

[bangon04]

6 hours ago, liddelljohn said:

Like an old SF B movie but I hope the Green Blob wins

No worries... there is a new Marvel movie just starting production. The USA can only save itself with even more superheros to believe in.

[Skipalongcassidy]

6 hours ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

You really could do with forgetting about Trump , at least stop thinking about him all the time 

And maybe study geography more... Mar-a-Lago is Atlantic Ocean not Gulf of Mexico...

[Chomper Higgot]

48 minutes ago, lockyv7 said:

seaweed makes great fertilizer ????‍♂️

So does BS, and these days there’s no shortage of that in Florida. 

[bamnutsak]

Florida Man meets Blob.

 

 

 

 

[John Drake]

Killer Seaweed. The Lost Continent (1968).  

Quote

The film sees the crew and passengers of the dilapidated tramp steamer Corita heading from Freetown to Caracas. While the passengers all have their own reasons for getting out of Africa, the captain of the ship is also eager to leave, as he is smuggling a dangerous explosive cargo. Whilst en route to South America the ship is holed and eventually what's left of the crew and passengers find themselves marooned in a mist-enshrouded Sargasso Sea surrounded by killer seaweed, murderous crustaceans and previously marooned descendants of Spanish Conquistadores and pirates. 

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lost_Continent_(1968_film)

 

[placeholder]

As the article notes there are 2 reasons why these blooms are getting so big. One is fertilizer runoff. And the other is human caused global warming. The article also mentioned a red tide that is afflicting Florida. Once again, warming seas and fertilizer runoff are factors increasing the frequency and extent of these blooms.

Then there is also the issue of the increasing power and duration of hurricanes. Once again, thanks global warming.

And parts of Florida are now being flooded monthly with what are called king tides. These are not due to adverse weather events but rather to rising sea levels. And yet again, thanks global warming.

And yet, people are still flocking to Florida. But as property insurance rates continue to skyrocket and the environment continues to be degraded,  I wonder how long that trend will continue.

[Rimmer]

Off topic posts and replies removed

[placnx]

9 hours ago, Jingthing said:

The blob is woke; it's going to Florida to die. 

It's heading for the Florida west coast, home of vegigators and Republican zombies.

[SOTIRIOS]

...Free Eats...(?)...

 

...Feed The Illegals...(?)

[thaibeachlovers]

Seaweed is edible ( the Japanese like to eat it ), so the blob may be an opportunity to feed the world.

[placeholder]

2 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Seaweed is edible ( the Japanese like to eat it ), so the blob may be an opportunity to feed the world.

That's like saying plants are edible so eating pine trees may be an opportunity to feed the world.

[IAMHERE]

Hope this blob of seaweed prevents the red tide they get often enough. Might as well hope the next balloon shot down lands on it so it's easy to find and recover. Lots of little fishes using the blob for shade, water is cooler so fewer hurricanes. It's not all a dark cloud.

[placeholder]

4 minutes ago, IAMHERE said:

Hope this blob of seaweed prevents the red tide they get often enough. Might as well hope the next balloon shot down lands on it so it's easy to find and recover. Lots of little fishes using the blob for shade, water is cooler so fewer hurricanes. It's not all a dark cloud.

Why would it prevent the red tide? In fact, some of the same factors that promote the red tide do the same for sargassum: fertilizer runoff and warming seas.

When it dies on the shore it releases hydrogen sulfide which is a poison. It kills fish, seagrass, and coral. (And by the way, that same gas can cause headaches and nausea and sends some people with preexisting respiratory conditions to emergency rooms)

In addition to which, sargassum blocks the sun from reaching coral reefs, which are hugely important as a nursery for juvenile fish.  And why would seawater be cooler? Does sargassum have a higher albedo in respect to infrared rays than does seawater?