1/17/2024 0 Comments People on key west beaches![]() ![]() Christopher Columbus encountered it in 1492 and named the Sargasso Sea after the seaweed. Sargassum has existed for hundreds of years. It may contain amounts of heavy metals such as arsenic and cadmium. The seaweed also contains tiny sea creatures, such as jellyfish larvae, that can irritate your skin on contact.Īnd don't use Sargassum in cooking, Florida officials advise. In open areas like beaches, however, moving air usually dilutes the gas to non-harmful levels. People with asthma or other breathing illnesses may have trouble breathing if they inhale too much of it. On land, Sargassum begins to rot and produces smelly hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, which can irritate eyes, ears, and noses. In the water, Sargassum is considered harmless to people. Up close, Sargassum is a collection of leafy structures, branches, and oxygen-carrying berries called pneumatocysts, air bladders that help the mats float. The weight was more than 200 fully loaded aircraft carriers, NASA said. In 2018, NASA satellites photographed an estimated 20 million tons of Sargassum that stretched 5,500 miles across the Atlantic Ocean. ![]() The Atlantic Sargassum belt reaches from the west coast of Africa to the Gulf of Mexico and can be viewed from orbit. Sargassum is a species of large brown seaweed, a type of macroalgae that floats in large masses. That report called the amount "a new historical record." What is Sargassum? USA TODAY reported that more than 24 million tons of Sargassum blanketed the Atlantic in June 2022, up from 18.8 million tons in May, according to a report by the University of South Florida's Optical Oceanography Lab. On the eastern Atlantic, the seaweed bloom near Florida and Mexico is considered one of the largest in history. Studies say that Sargassum found in the two regions are distinctly different, the commission says. However, the Sargasso Sea Commission says Sargassum on the eastern U.S., Western Africa and the Caribbean comes from a region south of the Sargasso Sea between the north equatorial current and the equator. Ocean currents carry it to Florida, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean islands, where the sheer amount of it hurts tourism and the fishing industry. environmental agency says Sargassum originates in the 2-million-square-mile Sargasso Sea. Sources vary on where the seaweed comes from. Though the " seaweed season" is March through October, it started appearing ahead of schedule in the Key West area and in Cancun, Mexico. Large amounts of Sargassum are projected to hit the Gulf Coast shores, including Florida, this summer. ![]() The seaweed has existed for centuries, but climate change and inflows of nitrogen and man-made fertilizer from rivers have caused exponential growth over the past decade. ![]() USA TODAY reports: 2023 could be big year for Sargassum.Sargassum rots after it washes ashore and produces hydrogen sulfide gas, which smells like rotten eggs and can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. If you’re heading to a beach in Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, or the Caribbean this summer, you may find yourself stepping over part of the massive Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt – enormous mats of brown seaweed washed up on shore after floating for months in the ocean.Įven if you don't walk on it, it may affect your beach stroll. Our award-winning, on-site events staff meticulously manages each occasion, from crafting delicious menus to seamlessly coordinating audio/visual services, in order to create an unforgettable atmosphere designed to surpass your every expectation.CORRECTION: This story is updated to reflect studies noted by the Sargassum Sea Commission that say the Sargassum on the eastern U.S., Africa and the Carribbean may originate in an area south of the Sargasso Sea. With vibrant indoor and outdoor venues, our grounds offer the largest and most beautiful event space in Key West, accommodating events of up to 500 people. Whether you are hosting a sales incentive trip, conference, or executive retreat, or are planning the wedding of your dreams, the historic splendor of Casa Marina is sure to elevate each and every moment. ![]()
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