Latest news with #ChuanminHu
CBS News
09-05-2025
- Science
- CBS News
Record seaweed surge at South Florida beaches
A record-breaking seaweed bloom is threatening to sour beachgoers' plans across South Florida as thick mats of sargassum continue to wash ashore, bringing foul smells, murky water and frustration to coastal communities. Seaweed turning tourists away "It brings a lot of animals from the sea and when they get here, it's rotten, so the smell is really bad," said Maria Rioscco, who frequently visits Hobie Island Beach Park with her husband. But this week, the mounting piles of seaweed along Key Biscayne have kept them away. Sandra Artiles, who lives in Brickell, said the problem is just as bad inland. "We have all this seaweed every day. Actually, we used to have an alligator after the seaweed had been sitting there for days and the smell is horrible. We cannot be by the pool — that's why we're here at the beach now. And here we come and there's all this seaweed," Artiles said. Scientists warn of more to come Dr. Chuanmin Hu, professor of Oceanography at the University of South Florida, said 13 million metric tons of sargassum were measured in April across the tropical Atlantic and eastern Caribbean — a figure signaling what could be one of the largest influxes yet. "It could be a large amount in late June or July, but it's too early to predict," Hu said. He noted the exact cause of the bloom is still unknown, though warmer ocean temperatures and stronger winds may be contributing factors. While fresh seaweed poses little risk, rotting sargassum can harbor bacteria and attract insects. "The rotten sargassum will attract insects just like anything rotten will attract insects and grow bacteria. That's why you want to avoid that," Hu said. "That is bad. The water quality is bad and you don't want to swim or dive in that brownish water," he added. Residents call for action Some residents are calling on local officials to address the growing problem. "I really hope that we can establish some program to clean it up," said Artiles. "I don't see why they can't clean the beaches. We do pay enough money for that," Rioscco said. CBS News Miami has reached out to Miami-Dade County officials for comment but has not yet received a response.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Remember sargassum? Florida could see record amounts this summer
Stinky, unsightly and potentially harmful – there are a litany of adjectives used to describe the naturally-occurring type of macroalgae called Sargassum, and none of them are positive. Sargassum has always been around, but it hit the widespread public consciousness in 2023 when blobs of the smelly seaweed piled up on Florida beaches and islands across the Caribbean Sea. The University of South Florida College of Marine Science estimated the sargassum blob to be around 13 million tons – a record amount – in March 2023. USF researchers are now sounding off about a new sargassum record broken in April. USF College of Marine Science Professor Dr. Chuanmin Hu told FOX 13 on Monday that the latest data indicated sargassum levels were over 200% higher than they were last year. Should you be worried about sargassum at your next visit to the beach? Probably not. Here's what to know about the latest sargassum bloom. Sargassum is essentially just brown macroalgae, which is more commonly known to us as seaweed. There are hundreds of different species of sargassum, according to USF. The two most dominant are called sargassum fluitans and sargassum natans. The smelly seaweed accumulates in a specific area of the North Atlantic Ocean where four currents converge into a sort of ocean gyre. The region is called the Sargasso Sea. However, because sargassum gathers here to form a monstrous, 5,000-mile-wide blob, the area is also called the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt. Whether it's the smell or simply the foreign nature of it, sargassum has developed a reputation for being toxic or dangerous. USF says that it's safe for most people. Sargassum is not toxic unless it is rotten, in which case it can release hydrogen sulfide and ammonia. USF says that even in this case, it would primarily affect people with underlying respiratory issues. Most people can safely swim around sargassum and ignore small amounts on beaches. Sargassum has been around for so long that Christopher Columbus wrote about it on his voyage to America. Sargassum seaweed has washed ashore beaches before, but something changed in the past two decades. Since 2011, large swathes of sargassum began migrating into the Caribbean Sea nearly every summer. Climate variability and other unnatural and natural processes are scientist's best guess at what has caused the sudden surge of sargassum. Sargassum typically starts washing up on beaches in March and persists through the summer. Florida doesn't usually start seeing any until mid-to-late May. USF's latest sargassum outlook showed that amounts in April were 200% higher than last year and 150% higher than the previous historical record. It's also 40% higher than the all-time high set in June 2022, making 2025 a new record year. Like in previous years, you can expect to see sargassum float into the west Caribbean Sea before moving into the Gulf through the Yucatan. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Florida likely to see record sargassum as April breaks all-time record
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
USF researchers see record-high amounts of Sargassum seaweed expected to wash ashore Florida's east coast
The Brief USF researchers said Floridians should see a lot more sargassum at the beach, especially on the east coast. The latest research shows levels in April were more than 200% higher than they were last year at this time. The belt of Sargassum seaweed stretches more than 5,000 miles between the Atlantic Coast of Africa and the Gulf. TAMPA, Fla. - It's smelly. It bogs down our beaches with seaweed and it could impact your health. USF researchers said Floridians should see a lot more sargassum at the beach, especially on the east coast. The latest research shows levels in April were more than 200% higher than they were last year at this time. That's according to USF College of Marine Science Professor Dr. Chuanmin Hu, who said that'll mean more seaweed to dispose of. READ:Underwater volcano off Oregon's coast inching closer to eruption, scientists say But, he said there is hope, because there are actually some businesses out there that have found ways to repurpose the seaweed instead. Big picture view A satellite image taken last week shows ocean water in dark blue and the abundance of Sargassum seaweed in green, yellow and red with the warm colors indicating more. "In the past month of April 2025, we had a new record, so the amount is just too much. It's much higher than the historical record," Hu said. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube Dig deeper The belt of Sargassum seaweed stretches more than 5,000 miles between the Atlantic Coast of Africa and the Gulf. Massive amounts can create a foul stench and emit toxic gas, and breathing that in can create respiratory issues for some. As Hu explained, large amounts usually never reach Pinellas beaches, instead washing ashore on the Florida east coast. Some amounts of Sargassum have already been found in the Florida Keys. "Why exactly we have all of a sudden this much sargassum? It's still being investigated, but our speculation is the ocean is warmer than usual in April and March. Also, the wind is stronger than previous years. That will stir up the ocean water," Hu said. Why you should care As Hu explained, municipalities usually dispose of it in landfills. However, more has been done to work out ways to repurpose it. A Mexican company uses 100 mg of sargassum to make each sole for shoes they make out of recycled plastic bottles. Going forward, he said, as the amounts of Sargassum increase, more research will need to be done on how to repurpose it. MORE: UF researchers: How urban green spaces can be designed to benefit humans, wildlife "They need to develop a better strategy to adapt to this new phenomenon. It's not going to stop in future years. It's only going to get worse," Hu said. What's next Hu said amounts washing ashore on the east coast will continue to increase over the next few months, peaking in the summer months. Those amounts will start to decline beginning in August and September. The Source The information in this story was gathered by FOX 13's Jordan Bowen. WATCH FOX 13 NEWS: STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app:Apple |Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Palm Beach County news: What to know on alligator mating season; massive seaweed in Florida
Looking for the top stories featured on the May 2 episode of our Palm Beach County news in 90 seconds? See the story blurbs and links below. If you've lived in Florida for long enough, you likely know that coexisting with alligators is a part of life in the Sunshine State. As long as you keep your distance and never feed one if it crosses your path, you should be fine. But there are some risks to be aware of, especially if you're planning on swimming in a lake or owning a home in the state (even if the closest body of water is a retention pond). It's officially mating season for the tens of thousands of gators that live throughout Florida, which means a higher likelihood that our reptilian neighbors turn up in unwanted places, like yards, pools and golf courses. Tap here for the full story A reprieve from the unruly seaside assaults of prickly and putrid sargassum may end this summer as a record-challenging bloom of the pelagic weed swells in the tropical Atlantic. Researchers at the University of South Florida said that an estimated 13 million metric tons of seaweed in the water between Africa and the Caribbean tops the previous March record of 12 million metric tons and that it is only expected to multiply as the peak months of June and July close in. 'We predicted back in December and January this would be a major year, but no one was certain whether it would be a record year,' said USF oceanography professor Chuanmin Hu. 'But now we already have a record March, and we have some confidence that this will be another record year.' Tap here for the full story Whether you lived it, loved it or want to experience what it was like to party 1970s style, Good Night John Boy in Delray Beach is ready to take you on a trip to that glorious age — and you won't need a DeLorean to get there. This new establishment in the city's downtown will be your chariot to a time of bell bottoms, puka shell necklaces, mirror balls, light up floors and dancing the night away. The completely retro-styled club is located at 33 SE Third Avenue just off Atlantic Avenue and will host their soft opening the weekend of May 9-10 with a full opening the following weekend. Taking its name from the phrase that closed every episode of the popular 1970s show "The Waltons," the club and restaurant is the creation of Forward Hospitality Group's founder, CEO and lead designer Michael Schwartz. Tap here for the full story Diamond Walker is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at dkwalker@ Help support our journalism. Subscribe today This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County news: Gator season, wildlife laws; Florida seaweed
