NEW YORK — Five thousand miles long, 400 miles wide, and over six million tons, a massive bloom of seaweed is drifting toward Florida and the Gulf of Mexico.
Scientists at the University of South Florida, with the help of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, have been tracking the bloom of sargassum, a type of brown seaweed, using satellites. Originating in the Atlantic Ocean, the bloom is approaching the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, posing a threat to beaches across the Gulf, including tourism-centric Florida.
Octavio Penaloza, who manages Wings Beachwear in Miami Beach, said the bloom impacting Miami could impact his bottom line.He noted that his busy season includes June and July -- the same months when the sargassum peaks in size, according to scientists. While his customer base includes tourists buying souvenirs without visiting the beach, many customers stop by his store for beachwear, which would become unnecessary if beaches become less pleasant.
While the bloom spans over two million square miles, it only completely covers about .1 percent of the sea surface, spread in patches that vary in size significantly, according to Barnes.
Hu said that this amount of seaweed is the “new normal” for the Atlantic Ocean; however, the current seaweed mass set the record for the largest bloom of sargassum recorded during January, though it decreased in size in February. “They sink to the ocean floor and smother things,” Hu said, noting that most of the bloom will likely end on the seafloor instead of the beach.
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