An
unprecedented algal bloom is making a splash in the Southern Ocean. Unlike in
some other aquatic areas, the bloom there could be a blessing rather than a
curse.
Scientists
at the University of Tasmania have discovered a 20,000-square-kilometer
(7,700-square-mile) bed of algae in Antarctica. The researchers became aware of
the unusual bloom through satellite information from NASA, which captured
images of huge, brownish-green spots in the waters of the ocean.
Experts say
the phenomenon is extremely unusual.
Three
factors involved
The German
ocean glaciologist Jan Lieser, who conducts research in Hobart, Tasmania,
explained that the algal bloom results from the interplay of three factors: an
ice-free ocean, sunlight and the presence of nutrients, in this case iron.
Water in
the region is typically low in iron, but strong winds could have blown dust and
snow from the continent of Antarctica into the water, releasing the metal.
 |
| The algae spells a feast for whales and other aquatic predators |
Lieser said
that a second source of iron could be what's known as "fast ice," ice
that forms in sheltered bays and remains over an extended period of time, even
over several winters, and collects dust and dirt from the air.
"When
it breaks up and drifts into the ocean, the sediment is released," Lieser
said.
Time to
gorge
When it
comes to the Adriatic or Baltic Seas, researchers are prone to talk about an
"algae plague," but the situation is different in the case of
Antarctica.
"I
expect a feast," Lieser said. All manner of tiny sea animals, such as Antarctic
krill, quickly snap up the short-lived algae. "Krill then becomes food for
seabirds, penguins, seals and even whales," Lieser explained.
The
researchers can't identify the exact kind of algae at the moment, although they
think it may be in the Phaeocystis family.
An
Australian research boat was near the algal bloom by chance, and scientists on
board have already taken samples. The crew plans to bring the specimens to
Tasmania, where they will be analyzed.
Test
results won't be available for another few days still. In the meantime, it'll
be a feeding frenzy in the Antarctic.
Author: Tobias Oelmaier / sad
Editor: Greg Wiser
Related Articles:
“2011 and Beyond” - What you are seeing, and why - Jan 16, 2010 (Kryon channeled by Lee Carroll) (Text version)
"....Let us just talk about the ocean for a moment. We won't even get to what's happening in the air and what mammals might experience. Let's just speak of the ocean. Have you heard about the salmon? What has your science warned you against? You're overfishing! The sea is dying. The coral is dying. The reefs are going away. You're not seeing the food chain that used to be there. You've overfished everything. Fishing quotas have been set up to help this. Oh, all those little people in the red room - they don't know about the purple. Red people only know about the red paradigm.
Did you hear about the salmon recently? There's too many of them! In the very place where quotas are in place so you won't overfish, they're jumping in the boats! Against all odds and any projections from environmentalists or biologists, they're overrunning the oceans in Alaska - way too many fish.
What does that tell you? Is it possible that Gaia takes care of itself? That's what it tells you! Perhaps this alignment is going to keep humanity fed. Did anybody think of this? What if Gaia is in alliance with you? What if the increase in consciousness that raised your DNA vibration has alerted Gaia to change the weather cycle and get ready to feed humanity? Are you looking at the ocean where the oil spill occurred? It's recovering in a way that was not predicted. What's happening?
The life cycle itself is being altered by the temperature change of the ocean and much of what you have believed is the paradigm of life in the sea is slowly changing. A new system of life is appearing, as it has before, and is upon you in your lifetime. It will compliment what you know and expose you to a new concept: Gaia regularly refreshes the life cycle on Earth. ...."
.
Did you hear about the salmon recently? There's too many of them! In the very place where quotas are in place so you won't overfish, they're jumping in the boats! Against all odds and any projections from environmentalists or biologists, they're overrunning the oceans in Alaska - way too many fish.
What does that tell you? Is it possible that Gaia takes care of itself? That's what it tells you! Perhaps this alignment is going to keep humanity fed. Did anybody think of this? What if Gaia is in alliance with you? What if the increase in consciousness that raised your DNA vibration has alerted Gaia to change the weather cycle and get ready to feed humanity? Are you looking at the ocean where the oil spill occurred? It's recovering in a way that was not predicted. What's happening?
The life cycle itself is being altered by the temperature change of the ocean and much of what you have believed is the paradigm of life in the sea is slowly changing. A new system of life is appearing, as it has before, and is upon you in your lifetime. It will compliment what you know and expose you to a new concept: Gaia regularly refreshes the life cycle on Earth. ...."
.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.