Where is the sargassum Belt currently located?

Where is the sargassum Belt currently located? Similar algal aggregations in the same area have subsequently occurred in most years, increasing in size and stretching over 8,850 km or 5,499 miles along the central Atlantic from the coast of west Africa to the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, garnering the name the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt (GASB).

Will sargassum hit the Panhandle?

It will most likely impact south Florida, but researchers do not believe the impact will be as large along Florida panhandle beaches. They will continue to monitor and report on the movement of this mass of seaweed over the course of the summer.

Where is the Great sargassum Belt now?

This Sargassum was first reported by Christopher Columbus in the 15th century but recently appeared in 2011 in the Atlantic. As of 2023, the belt is estimated to weigh about 5.5 million metric tonnes and extends 5,000 miles (8,000 km), stretching from West Africa to the Gulf of Mexico.

How bad is the Sargassum in Key West?

The seaweed itself is not harmful to humans, but decaying sargassum on beaches releases hydrogen sulfide that can impact people with breathing issues. That said, even decaying sargassum is not considered harmful because the gases disperse quickly on breezy beaches.

Does Clearwater beach have sargassum?

At this time, red tide is not present on St. Pete/Clearwater's beaches. Although many national news outlets reported about a massive seaweed or sargassum blob coming to Florida this summer, this is not affecting the beaches of St. Pete/Clearwater in any way.

Do Miami beaches have sargassum?

Learn about sargassum (seaweed) on Miami-Dade County beaches It provides crucial habitat for many marine species, including endangered sea turtles, which, upon hatching on our beaches, make their way out to the sargassum to spend their juvenile years feeding and growing amongst the seaweed mats.

What part of Florida will the sargassum hit?

Substantial sargassum is expected in June in both the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, according to the May report from the University of South Florida. That's no surprise to beachgoers who have been seeing the smelly seaweed on Florida beaches from Pensacola to Brevard County.

Will sargassum hit Alabama beaches?

Some of it is surely going to make it to Alabama beaches, he said. How much depends on the strength and the direction of the winds this summer. In 2022, Gulf State Park moved rolls of sargassum that landed on the beaches there back into the dunes to help strengthen those structures.

Does Daytona Beach have sargassum?

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. The seaweed called sargassum has been showing up for the last few weeks. Those on the beach in Volusia County think it could help rebuild the dunes and beaches after last year's hurricanes took several dozen feet of sand back to the ocean. “A lot of people think we move it. We don't move it.

Is there sargassum in naples Florida?

Currently, beach cams in Fort Myers Beach and Naples show clear shorelines with little to no sargassum. It is noted that 'Seaweed Season' just ended, which tends to appear on Florida beaches in the spring, with a peak in June.

What beaches are not affected by sargassum 2023?