Ocean Feedback Loop Revealed as Primary Driver of Explosive Sargassum Blooms

2 hours ago7 min read2 comments

Scientists have unraveled the mystery behind the colossal sargassum blooms plaguing the Atlantic and Caribbean, identifying a powerful, climate-driven feedback loop as the primary engine for their growth. While river runoff and Saharan dust were long considered the main nutrient sources, new research reveals a more complex, self-sustaining mechanism.The study pinpoints a dual-source system: deep ocean upwelling near the equator supplies phosphorus from the depths, while a community of nitrogen-fixing bacteria, living directly on the sargassum, provides the other key nutrient. This symbiotic partnership creates a floating fertilizer factory, fueling the seaweed's explosive expansion.Coral core data confirms this process has intensified over the last decade, directly aligning with the unprecedented sargassum surges observed since 2011. The findings shift the narrative from localized pollution to a systemic oceanic phenomenon, likely accelerated by broader climatic shifts. This discovery illuminates a critical feedback loop, suggesting the great Atlantic sargassum belt may become a permanent and expanding feature of the marine environment, with severe implications for coastal economies, marine ecosystems, and global ocean health.

#featured

#sargassum blooms

#nutrient partnership

#climate-driven process

#coral cores

#equatorial upwelling

#cyanobacteria

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