Weeks before her beaches Southwest Florida inundated with “spring break” sightseers, a spring “vacation” including the Easter holidays in early spring at universities and schools, the banks were painted “red” and filled with dead fish.

This phenomenon is called “red tide” and is usually recorded in the fall, hitting the southern coasts of Texas and Florida, although this year it was presented earlier.

With the phenomenon’s early return, citizens and authorities have been alarmed by images of thousands of dead fish, as well as people’s reports of respiratory irritation.

What is “red tide”

Red tides are phenomena of the rapid accumulation of phytoplankton, saline, fresh and mixed waters, as a result of which the sea surface is colored.

When these phytoplankton organisms are present in high concentrations, they cause a coloration in the water that ranges from purple to almost pink.

“Toxic algae blooms in coastal areas move toward the coast and begin to grow as they find nutrients,” explains Richard Stumpf, an oceanographer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

As he points out, poisonous algae usually move to the depths of the ocean, but if nutrients move, so do they. When Karenia brevis algae accumulate in large numbers, they form flowers that turn the water red over large areas.

“They just build up there and then grow with whatever nutrients they can find. They are very good at trapping the limited nutrients in the water,” says Stumpf.

What problems does it cause?

This marine phenomenon can cause breathing problems, especially for people with medical conditions such as asthma. For those who do not have breathing problems, exposure to the algae’s toxins can cause symptoms similar to the common cold, as well as eye irritation, Stumpf said.

These accumulations are also harmful to fish. As Stumpf points out, algae release toxins that paralyze their gills. In addition, summer blooms kill benthic organisms such as corals and sponges.

Finally, it is also deadly to seabirds that feed on fish that have been exposed to toxins. The “victims” of the red tides were a variety of turtles and dolphins.

How is climate change affecting this?

OUR changing of the climate May cause an event with greater frequency and intensity, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Nutrients from fertilizers enter waterways and become food for algae when they reach the ocean. Climate change means warmer sea temperatures and stronger storms, leading to more stormwater runoff. The combination of these conditions is the perfect recipe for a big algae bloom.

Source: Washington Post.