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science20h ago
Scientists warn of ‘regime shift’ as seaweed blooms expand worldwide
- New study links rapid macroalgae growth to global heating and nutrient pollution in oceans.
- Macroalgae blooms increased 13.4% annually in the tropical Atlantic and western Pacific since 2003.
- The study used artificial intelligence to analyze 1.2 million satellite images from 2003 to 2022.
- The Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt is a prominent example of these blooms, visible from space.
- Researchers warn that macroalgae expansion could alter radiative forcing and carbon sequestration.
- The paper was published in Nature Communications, adding credibility to the seaweed trend findings.
- Blooms of microalgae rose too, but at a slower rate than macroalgae.
- Most pronounced growth in macroalgae occurred after 2008, aligning with intensified warming since 2010.
- The study identifies tipping points for seaweed types in different oceans (2008, 2011, 2012).
- Researchers warn macroalgae could affect light and chemistry in the upper ocean.
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