However, apart from the seaweed, there are many good reasons to choose Bayahibe over Punta Cana. Ecol. That's one way that they track the sargassum in the ocean and how much can be estimated. By doing this they can see how much is located in the ocean. Sargassum, in other words, is very unpredictable and very difficult to track. Punta Cana, along with other Caribbean countries, is facing a sargassum problem since 2015. Sargassum decomposition on beaches smells bad, attracts insects, and causes many environmental problems (e.g., smothering turtle nesting sites, sea turtle mortality, fish kills) and economic problems (e.g., diminished tourism). University of South Florida researchers predicted a sargassum slurry would find its way to South Florida after watching it blossom in the Caribbean, but early forecasts for 2020 underestimated the . But 2018 was among the worst in Florida, Lapointe said, adding that this year could rival that year's bloom. Beaches up and down the Central Florida coast, at least from . Its too early to know how much seaweed will reach Floridas beaches, but it has shown up in varying degrees and depths during every major growth year, hitching a ride on the loop current to assail the Keys and areas north from Miami to Jacksonville. Jamaica Seaweed Problem [2023]: Everything You Need To Know!! Related: Check here for the local weather forecast. It's too early to know how much seaweed will reach Florida's beaches, but it has shown up in varying degrees and. The table below shows the four satellite sensors that are currently used in SaWS, with the first three sharing similar characteristics. The professor is with the University of South Florida's Optical Oceanography Lab. Palm Beach vs West Palm Beach for Vacation [2023] :An Honest Comparison to Help You Choose! Sargassum: The What, Where, and Why of this Seaweed, Sargassum is a genus of large brown seaweed (a type of algae) that floats in island-like masses, Govt allocates initial $5 million for removal of sargassums. Puerto Rico Seaweed Problem [2023]: Everything You Need to Know! Almost all Caribbean countries are expected to face this problem in 2023, as they did in 2022. More information and near real-time imagery can be found under the Sargassum Watch System (SaWS, https://optics.marine.usf.edu/projects/saws.html). The SEAS team has also worked with several government entities and private organizations on several different projects in hopes of further understanding the nature of Sargassum seaweed and its movement and migration patterns. Cancun Sargassum Conditions: Forecast for 2022 It is obvious now that this will be the worst sargassum season in five years. However, it is important to note that in 2022, small waves of sargassum continued to wash up on Punta Canas beaches until the beginning of December 2022, well after the end of the sargassum season. Yet the University of South Florida Optical Oceanography Lab has said "2022 is likely going to be another moderate or major sargassum year," with observable amounts in all waters lower than in 2018 and 2021. A further ten thousand is heading in the same direction the next week. 15:67-88. A year ago, fed by sewage and fertilizers in Brazil and thereabouts, the same seaweed kept coming all summer long. Worldwide mystery: What are those things the oceans been dumping on Palm Beach? Sargassum Early Advisory System In the ocean it serves as an important habitat for many marine animals as it provides food, shade, and shelter (from predators) to fish, shrimp, crabs, and turtles. If you are looking for a sargassum-free beach vacation or to enjoy your vacation with complete peace of mind, Bayahibe town is undoubtedly one of the best places to visit near Punta Cana. Of particular importance are the two customized data products, namely the floating algae index (FAI) to detect floating algae and other materials on the ocean surface, and the color index (CI) to trace ocean circulation features. Mar 27, 2021 - 1:37 pm. Further details can be found in the December 2022 bulletin below. We tried to go farther in, but the farther you get, the more seaweed youre going to get all over, said Tanya Suarez, another beachgoer on Dania Beach. Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology. Dominican Republic : Punta Cana SEAWEED Problem (2022): Everything You Need To Know!! February 17, 2022. University of South Florida scientists said January was the second consecutive month that the amount of seaweed doubled, reaching 8.7 million tons, which is enough to fill about 3,000 Olympic size pools. <> Cette dcision concerne Saint-Barthlmy, Saint-Martin, la Guadeloupe et la Martinique. Smetacek, V., and A. Zingone (2013). As of 2017, the SEAS Program has performed forecasting for all of the Gulf Coast, Mexico, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and various Caribbean Islands, in order to aid local coastal zone management efforts by providing publicly available data regarding the windrows whereabouts. LaPointe said areas of the Keys are already using it or considering it. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Sargassum Early Advisory System (SEAS), Sargassum Early Advisory System (SEAS): A comparison of Sargassum landing amounts vs cold fronts on the Gulf Coast, 1001 Texas Clipper Rd, Galveston, TX 77554. But not this year. A monthly bulletin showed that there was a 100 percent increase in the amount of seaweed. This is merely a collection of these cameras to help people see the local conditions of the beaches. Chetan is a travel enthusiast, who finds solace in traveling. Thursday 13 January 2022. Bayahibe offers a better snorkeling experience than Punta Cana due to the Caribbeans clear, warm waters and high visibility. Sargassum contains arsenic, which it uptakes from what's naturally in ocean water. The bad news, scientists say, is that much more is headed our waythan has ever been documented before. generated by the University of South Florida (USF), the algorithm analyses the AFAI values in USF, College of Marine Science This is the collection of Presentations from the Sargassum Symposium.Feel free to download what you wish. Director of Public Works Paul Brazil said the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Florida Department of Environmental Protection are working with the town on ways to handle the sargassum during nesting season. MTO FRANCE : 30/01/2023 Prvision dchouements dalgues sargasses, 28/01/2023 Sargassum seaweed Satellite views, MTO FRANCE : 26/01/2023 Prvision dchouements dalgues sargasses, Mexico : 2023 un ao con mucho sargazo para el Caribe Mexicano, MTO FRANCE : 23/01/2023 Bulletin de prvision dchouements de sargasses plagiques, 21/01/2023 Sargassum seaweed Satellite views, Mexico : Sol, mary sargazo: cmo la energa puede rescatar al paraso mexicano, MTO FRANCE Antilles Francaises : 16/01/2023 Bulletin de prvision dchouements de sargasses plagiques, 14/01/2023 Sargassum seaweed Satellite views, ANTILLES FRANCAISES : 09/01/2023 BULLETIN DE PREVISION DECHOUEMENT DES SARGASSES PELAGIQUES, Mexico & Florida: Growth rates of pelagic Sargassum species in the Mexican Caribbean, 06/01/2023 Sargassum seaweed Satellite views, ANTILLES FRANCAISES : 02/01/2023 BULLETIN DE PREVISION DECHOUEMENT DES SARGASSES PELAGIQUES. Jupiter is hot spot for sharks munching on line-caught fish; now what can be done about it? In April 2022, the overall Sargassum amount increased significantly across the tropical Atlantic, the Caribbean Sea (CS), the Gulf of Mexico (GoM), and . huc@usf.edu. The tools and understanding provided by these efforts can be utilized by future researchers and coastal zone managers for the purposes of education and outreach, enhanced coastal resiliency, and scientific advancement. 'Daring' coral rescue as officials attempt to safeguard genetics of Florida reef tract, Why four nesting shorebirds had Palm Beach County officials jumping for joy, How coral is thriving in a trashy, polluted port thrashed by cruise ships, Giant manta ray babies and a study that could save a threatened species, Great hammerhead shark nursery discovered in urban area of Florida, Marine detectives: They're tracking syringes, blood vials, other disgusting stuff that washes up on our beaches. Does Punta Cana still Have a Sargassum Problem in 2023? By no means should it be used for commercial purpose, or used for predicting bloom conditions for a specific location or beach. Sargassum is definitely a big concern for tourists planning a vacation to Punta Cana. "We will keep a close eye on how Sargassum in the Caribbean Sea and the tropical Atlantic may evolve in the next two months," the bulletin says. Playa del Carmen SEAWEED Crisis [2022]: A Detailed Guide!! 4 0 obj Hu says climate change could be at play as warmer waters could be causing higher algal blooms. For instance, almost all hotels in Punta Cana employ dedicated staff that works hard to keep beaches sargassum-free on a daily basis. stream Pratices for Determing Volumetruc Data of Fresh Sargassum Wracks, A quantitative investigation of the role Sargassum accumulation plays in inhibiting sand erosion on Galveston Islands West-end Beaches, Investigation of the Impact of Beach Raking on Beach Accretion/Erosion: West End Beaches of Galveston Island, Texas 2007/ 2008, Advanced prediction of the Intra-Americas Sargassum Season through Analysis of the 1 Sargassum Loop System Using Remote Sensing Technology, Development and implementation of But, the important point to note is that Punta Cana is much better prepared to tackle this problem in 2023 than it was in 2022. This summer is on pace to match or exceed those years. Check here to see Dr. Simmons presenting a 3D Model of our waterways for students at Mayport Middle. By June 6, the leading edge of the massive river of dust reached South America, stretching more than 3,500 miles and coveringmore than 2.2 million square miles, according to theModerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board NASAs Aqua satellite, which acquired a true-color image. South Floridas beaches see record volume this summer, Sargassum, the brown tide that is invading the Caribbean. Bingham Oceanog. A screenshot of a typical web interface is presented below. June 2022 had a record high sargassum amount compared to any previous year, according to Hu. The Sargassum a seaweed that grows in the Atlantic will be arriving and flowing onshore, and it could be extra abundant this year. Sargassum Outlook Bulletin, December 2022 Sargassum Outlook Bulletin, November 2022 Sargassum Outlook Bulletin, October 2022 A 2019 report on the group's findings pointed to two main culprits for the increase in sargassum higher nutrient levels in runoff from the Amazon River and when an upwelling in the eastern Atlantic brings cooler water and nutrients from the bottom of the ocean to the surface. I was expecting to be able to go in the water closer to the coast but I actually dont feel comfortable, said Kayla Golphin, who was visiting Florida from Cleveland. Since then, the bulletins have been generated and distributed to subscribers by the last day of the month. Within Google Earth, once a Sargassum raft is identified with latitude and longitude, current speed and direction (available through a mouse click over the current vector) near the raft can be used to predict the movement of the raft and a possible beaching time, in essence, forming an early warning system. . Palm Beach, like many towns, cleans its public beaches with mechanical raking devices. Sargassum decomposes into stinging thick layers on the surface of the water, depleting the oxygen in the water and destroying the marine life in the area. Some cities have tried to clean up the seaweed, but it can be expensive and can cause beach erosion. Florida Seaweed Problem 2022: Everything You Need to Know! Researchers: April sargassum bloom largest ever recorded. ", She continued, "I think the major issue is it's unpleasant. Bayahibe, on the other hand, is located on the Caribbean side, therefore the water is calmer, turquoise, and clear. B. Barnes, B. Murch, and P. Carlson (2014), Satellite-based virtual buoy system (VBS) to monitor coastal water quality, Optical Engineering, 53, 051402. doi: 10.1117/1.OE.53.5.051402. SargassumseaweedhasbeenabigproblemforCaribbeancountriessince 2015. Scientists are concerned. Webster, R. K., and T. Linton (2013), Development and implementation of Sargassum Early Advisory System (SEAS), Shore and Beach, 81(3): 1 6. "The month of June in 2022 had a record high Sargassum amount compared to any previous year," said Chuanmin Hu, a professor with the University of South Florida's Oceanography Lab. Hotels in Bayahibe are usually 6 to 12 % cheaper than hotels in Punta Cana. And researchers warn that this seasonal so-called Sargassum storm is likely to get worsebefore easing up, as all the excess weeds at sea wash in with the winds and currents, often wrapped in a filamentous brown algae that's only making things worse. Locals and tourists take photos and videos of the various beaches in Punta Cana and share them in this Facebook group. Belize Seaweed Problem [2023]: Everything You Need to Know! Sargassum removal from Texas beaches during earlier, less severe inundations was estimated at $2.9 million per year and Florida's Miami-Dade County alone estimated recent removal expenses of $45 million per year. Lapointe calls Sargassum the largest seasonalalgae bloom on the planet. The big question is will this spring and summer be extra stinky on our beaches from this seaweed? "We do believe that the Congo River is also contributing to the formation of the bloom in the eastern tropical Atlantic.". This summer's Sargassum already has set a record. Shark bait:Jupiter is hot spot for sharks munching on line-caught fish; now what can be done about it? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. According to. Find the most up-to-date forecast, map, and images of Cancun's seaweed . Continuous and improved monitoring and. sargassum seaweed 1 year ago Save Heading down to Marathon and Key West May 8th for the week to get married and honeymoon and cant wait! It is true that several beaches in Punta Cana have seaweed problems. Sign up for NBC South Florida newsletters. They founddramatic changes in the chemistry and composition ofSargassum weed since the 1980s, "transforming this vibrant living organism into a toxic dead zone, FAU's announcement said. At present, no one can predict the long-term trend of Sargassum blooms, but it is unlikely that the beaching events of the past 5 years will stop. Over the next two weeks Florida's east coast will. Environ., 113, 21182129. zw'5>zb0mdJ k;bzz7_cHryC}+7Vfk~E= People dont like it because its unsightly, said Mahady, the Boynton Beach ocean rescue chief. Puerto Rico Seaweed Problem [2023]: Everything You Need to Know! Playa del Carmen SEAWEED Crisis [2022]: A Detailed Guide!! The resolution is 30m, which means each pixel . For centuries, pelagicSargassum, floating brown seaweed, have grown in low nutrient waters of the North Atlantic Ocean, supported by natural nutrient sources such as fish and invertebrates excretions andocean upwelling. However, as I previously stated, this is a temporary problem that varies from day to day, season to season, and place to place. Of course be sure to check our local forecast now and throughout the summer so we can let you know when this seaweed will be setting in. But experts at the . Over 46 thousand tonnes of sargassum seaweed are expected to be deposited across Cancun and the Mexican Caribbean in the next week. "Nitrogen appears to be increasing in the Atlantic basin, driving these blooms,"Brian Lapointe, a research professor at FAU-Harbor Branch in Fort Pierce. For those who would like to contribute with a report of Sargassum sighting, please go to this page. View interactive maps and detailed reports on beaches located in Quintana Roo. Which is BETTER for Vacation? Lapointe, B. E., L. E. West, T. T. Sutton, and C. Hu (2014), Ryther revisited: nutrient excretions by fishes enhance productivity of pelagic Sargassum in the western North Atlantic Ocean, J. Exp. Seasonal seaweed is nothing new as its been creeping up since 2011, but experts have been looking into the cause. Since his passing, the program has continued to work towards learning more about Sargassum blooms and understanding the forces that cause the landings each year. Lett. Hu said 2023 will be another major sargassum year, possibly surpassing 2022. "It's not pleasant for swimmers. The continuation of this project and its' research goals are his legacy. 2022; Sargassum is worsening the conditions . The purpose of this forecasting system is to predict extremely large windrows, rather than patches or debris of seaweed. Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at the time released a study that suggestedincreased availability of nitrogen from natural and man-made sources, including sewage, fuels excess Sargassum growth. The University of South Florida's December . NOAA/Atlantic Oceanographic & Meteorological Laboratory "2022 will be another major Sargassum year," stated the bulletin. However, the University of South Florida Optical Oceanography Lab said in a report that "2022 is likely going to be another moderate or major sargassum year," with observable amounts in all . Many people visiting the Brevard County coastline in recent days may have noticed lots of stinky seaweed that has washed up onshore. When it comes to the sargassum problem, 2022 was the worst year on record for all Caribbean countries, including the Dominican Republic. Will Punta Cana face a huge sargassum crisis in 2023, as it did in 2022? The Sargassum Watch System (SaWS) is designed to use satellite data and numerical models to detect and track pelagic Saragassum in near-real time. He said culprits in previous years typically included anything that would add nutrients to the surface of the ocean, including upwelling and mixing. The beaches on Key Biscayne are regularly inundated with blankets of sargassum seaweed. In fact, experts are predicting that the sargassum crisis in 2023 could be as bad as the one in 2022, or even worse. In doing so, the plants uptake more arsenic because its in a molecular form that's similar to phosphate. We had moguls of it, said town councilmember Bobbie Lindsay about the sargassum. Huge Sargassum blooms blanketed beaches alongthe east coast of Barbados and Puerto Rico in 2014, as well. <>/Metadata 168 0 R/ViewerPreferences 169 0 R>> Combined, the total amount of the weed increased from 18.8 million tons in May 2022 to 24.2 million tons in June 2022, setting a new. Parr, A.E. The resolution is 30m, which means each pixel is 30m x 30m, so a windrow of Sargassum must be extremely large in order to be detected. Environ., 167, 229-246. doi: doi:10.1016/j.rse.2015.05.022, Huffard, C. L., S. von Thun, A. D. Sherman, K. Sealey, and K. L. Smith Jr. (2014). Combined, the total amount of the weed increased from 18.8 million tons in May 2022 to 24.2 million tons in June 2022, setting a new historical record, according to the University of South Florida scientistsJuly 2 bulletin on the algae. By spring 2023, a major bloom may develop in the western central Atlantic and the CS. Stay informed on the latest Cancun seaweed conditions, updates, and maps. endobj Website Clearwater Beach See on Instagram Hours: Daily until dark Address: 112 S. Osceola Avenue, Clearwater, FL. As per the latest data and satellite images, it is clear that Punta Cana and other Caribbean countries will face a huge sargassum crisis in 2023. Sargassum in the Florida Keys By Helen Briggs BBC News A floating mass of seaweed stretching from West Africa to the Gulf of Mexico is now the biggest seaweed bloom in the world, according to. As of last month, sargassum in the Caribbean Sea and Central West Atlantic totaled an estimated 10.1 million tons, which is second only to the amount in April 2018. The forecast indicates the possibility of a medium to high chance of more Sargassum polluting the beaches. Unlike red tide and blue-green algae, sargassum isn't harmful. A user may then select a specific date on the calendar, or use the animate function to browse through the image sequence quickly to determine the date of interest. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. It also broke the previous January record set in 2018. <> Large quantities of sargassum are again likely to wash up on the beaches of Mexico's Caribbean coast in 2019, according to an ocean researcher from the National Autonomous University (UNAM). Its a well-known fact that the majority of hotels in Punta Cana have live cameras overlooking the beaches. Over 44 thousand tonnes of sargassum were collected in 2021 alone, with around 30,000 of that being picked up in May alone. He went on to state that the amount offshore right now is four times what it typically is this time of year. Will there be seaweed in Punta Cana in 2023? These live cams allow you to easily track the current sargassum conditions on the beaches. Pelagic Sargassum community change over a 40-year period: temporal and spatial variability. Sargassum is almost non-existent in Bayahibe. St. Thomas Vs St. Croix in 2023? Filmed on Thursday 21st April 2022 South Swinton Avenue, Delray Beach, Palm Beach County, United States 489874 Hundreds of miles of beaches in South Florida have been covered in tonnes of stinky sargassum seaweed. Oct 8 06/10/2022 PRVISIONS POUR LES 4 PROCHAINS JOURS: Le courant de sud-est entrane les radeaux, qui pourront s'chouer principalement sur les ctes sud et est des les de #SaintMartin et de #SaintBarthlemy . Since then, the Dominican Republics government and Punta Canas hoteliers have taken numerous big initiatives to address this issue, as tourism is the countrys main source of income. Our beach could literally be clean at 8 a.m. and three to four hours later a giant mat of sargassum the size of a mall will come in like the blob, like a Stephen King movie, said Tom Mahady, city of Boynton Beach Ocean Rescue chief. Especially, the sargassum problem is worst in Punta Cana in the months of July and August. We will continue to closely monitor Sargassum coverage, with more updates provided by the end of January 2023. Here we show a few photographs that reveal the serious nature of the problem. Dierssen, H. M., A. Chlus, and B. Russell (2015). Any use of the image, data, or graph from this bulletin page in reports or publications should obtain permission from the USF OOL group. Gulf Caribb. The Sargassum a seaweed that grows in the Atlantic will be arriving and flowing onshore, and it could be extra abundant this year. Some years it's worse than others; 2011 and 2018 were record-setting. Robert Webster ingeniously navigated the development of the SEAS Program. This is very rare in history, said USF oceanography professor Chuanmin Hu, about the rapid growth. Florida Seaweed Problem 2022: Everything You Need to Know! The forecast for the arrival of seaweed ranges from medium intensity to very strong. Using as core inputs the AFAI (Alternative Floating Algae Index) fields St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA environmental and public health harm. *Notice* Yucatan has been changed to Quintana Roo North. 140 7th Avenue S, MSL119 You wont have to worry about sargassum if you visit these places at any time of year. SIR is the result of the collaboration between the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory These events can cause significant economic, environmental and public health harm. When asked why, Dr. Hu noted, we dont know, that is a direct answer. MS Thesis, University of South Florida, 118pp. Noah's Ark for coral:'Daring' coral rescue as officials attempt to safeguard genetics of Florida reef tract. Its all over the place. In Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic, as it does every year, major sargassum waves are expected to arrive at the beginning of March 2023. And then also Climate change, as these waters get warmer, and we are not having the reprieve with cold waters. Visit floridatoday.com/subscribe. The bulletins started in early February 2018, and they are meant to give an outlook of Sargassum bloom probability in certain regions in the upcoming months, based on bloom conditions in previous months, and previous years. Itprovides food for birds, crabs and other wildlife and habitat for hiding. AccordingtoReportur,theamountofsargassumfloatingintheCentralAtlanticOceaninNovember2022increasedtoanastounding6milliontonsbyDecember2022. This is a record-breaking number, and it indicates that massive waves of sargassum will land on the beaches of Punta Cana and other Caribbean countries in 2023. It is predicted that the concentration of sargassum would increase continuously from April to October with an increase in the sea temperature, as it does every year. Wang, M., and C. Hu (2016). (bbarnes4@usf.edu, yuyuan@usf.edu, huc@usf.edu). 3 0 obj Interestingly, the 2020 sargassum season was pretty light and scientists are trying to figure out why. Coast Guard pushes for law to curb reckless boaters, Childrens Parks and Playgrounds in Cayman, Subscribe to the Cayman Real Estate Newsletter. More:These mysterious 'devices' keep washing up on Floridas beaches. The maps below show Sargassum abundance, with warm colors representing higher values. Also, the majority of Punta Cana is protected by seaweed barriers designed to prevent sargassum from reaching the beaches. They're . Miami, FL 33149, USA But, like in 2022, it is possible that Punta Cana may continue to be hit by small-scale sargassum waves even after September 2023. The University of South Florida Satellite-based Sargassum Watch System has predicted 2018 will be a major bloom year, which is already impacting the Caribbean. Sargassum: Erosion and Biodiversity on the Beach, Spatial Sciences Laboratory, Dept. Depending on winds and current, researchers estimate an early July arrival.. And, as it does every year, it is predicted that sargassum will continue to wash up on the beaches of Punta Cana until the end of sargassum season in September.
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