IT turns out the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season was not only devastating to the country’s population – it was also destructive to one of the oceans it borders. Smoke from the bushfires caused a massive algal bloom in the Southern Ocean, in an event scientists have compared to “the entire...
Checking your subscription…
Subscribe to Continue
You've reached a subscriber-only article.
Subscribe free to Cruise Weekly for unlimited access to all articles, plus our regular newsletter and breaking news bulletins delivered to your inbox.
IT turns out the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season was not only devastating to the country’s population – it was also destructive to one of the oceans it borders.
Smoke from the bushfires caused a massive algal bloom in the Southern Ocean, in an event scientists have compared to “the entire Sahara Desert turning into a productive grassland”.
The bloom, larger than the entire continent, was caused by iron particles in smoke aerosols.
Smoke clouds travelled into the stratosphere and circumnavigated the globe, depositing aerosol particles thousands of kilometres away.
It occurred in the ocean between New Zealand and South America beginning in Oct 2019, and lasted about four months.
Algal bloom is problematic as it can inhibit the existence of other oceanic organisms such as seagrass.
×
Subscribe for Free Access
Get full access to this article and all premium content. FREE forever.
