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. Sargassum can affect ocean vessels by the clogging of engines and pumps and reducing the ability to navigate. However, there are still numerous places in Punta Cana that are completely sargassum-free, allowing you to enjoy Punta Canas world-famous gorgeous beaches without concern for seaweed. NOAA/Atlantic Oceanographic & Meteorological Laboratory Also, Macao beach and Uvero Alto beaches are other excellent options if you want sargassum-free beaches. Its a well-known fact that the majority of hotels in Punta Cana have live cameras overlooking the beaches. Besides being a stinky and itchy nuisance, experts say were seeing more Sargassum seaweed than usual across the entire Atlantic. Jim Waymer is an environment reporter atFLORIDA TODAY. This website shows the beaches that are currently affected by sargassum. Florida Seaweed Problem 2022: Everything You Need to Know! Lett. Aruba SEAWEED Problem [2023]: Everything You Need To Know!! Also, the level of Sargassum varies beach by beach, day by day, place by place, and season by season. ", Penalties:Jupiter divers who freed sharks, destroyed angler's gear avoid harshest penalties. People dont like it because its unsightly, said Mahady, the Boynton Beach ocean rescue chief. FAU researchers have shown seasonal Sargassum in Florida and elsewhere in the tropical Atlantic have grown worse in recent years because of increasing nitrogen and phosphorus from discharges from the Congo, Amazon and Mississippi rivers, atmospheric deposition from Saharan dust, and biomass burning of vegetation in central and South Africa. Their findings werepublished last year inNature Communications. When it comes to the sargassum problem, 2022 was the worst year on record for all Caribbean countries, including the Dominican Republic. Huge Sargassum blooms blanketed beaches alongthe east coast of Barbados and Puerto Rico in 2014, as well. The year 2022 was particularly bad, as a large amount of sargassum seaweed landed on the shores of many Caribbean countries, ruining their pristine white sand beaches and spoiling the holidays of many tourists. 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. 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. Chetan is a travel enthusiast, who finds solace in traveling. It is true that several beaches in Punta Cana have seaweed problems. 4 0 obj This is a record-breaking number, and it indicates that massive waves of sargassum will land on Mexico's Caribbean coastline and other Caribbean countries in 2023. The numbers for July are starting to level off for now. 15:67-88. However, from the beginning of March 2023, major waves of sargassum are expected to arrive in Punta Cana. Hotels in Punta Cana are investing heavily in cutting-edge technology and skilled manpower to tackle this problem. Find the most up-to-date forecast, map, and images of Cancun's seaweed . 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). Geosci. 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. 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. These live cams allow you to easily track the current sargassum conditions on the beaches. Over 46 thousand tonnes of sargassum seaweed are expected to be deposited across Cancun and the Mexican Caribbean in the next week. FAU researchers have shown seasonal Sargassum in Florida and elsewhere in the tropical Atlantic have grown worse in recent years because of increasing nitrogen and phosphorus from discharges. Its current biomass is estimated to be from 1.7 . 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. Help support our local journalism, subscribe today. Sargassum is a constant presence in the Atlantic. SIR is the result of the collaboration between the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory 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. FRANCE : Le ministre dlgu au Outre-mer Jean-Franois Carenco a annonc la cration, au 15 octobre 2022, de quatre structures pour grer le sujet sargasse aux Antilles. However, excessive amounts of Sargassum on beaches in populated areas can cause a lot of problems and they must be physically removed. As we've added more nitrogen from fertilizers, sewage, deforestation and other sources to coastal waters, seaweed and other aquatic plants seek more phosphates to balance their nutrients, Lapointe explained. Last year was a record-breaker for the total amount of sargassum, with it reaching a peak of 22 million tons in July. This January already set a record for all previous January months.. The forecast indicates the possibility of a medium to high chance of more Sargassum polluting the beaches. "2022 will be another major Sargassum year," stated the bulletin. If you have news tips, please send them to kmiller@pbpost.com. Bayahibes beaches are more relaxed than Punta Canas, with fewer tourists and far fewer vendors trying to sell you souvenirs. It really becomes a problem when it piles up in the mangroves and causes these dead zones, LaPointe said. In June 2021 (shown above) they found it in record-high amounts in the Caribbean, central west Atlantic Ocean, and Gulf of Mexico. The berries are filled with air and other gases; they float and help sargassum drift at the ocean surface, where it grows. Researchers at NASA and the University of South Florida have confirmed their earlier warning of a growing bloom of sargassum seaweed, after satellite imagery captured the largest-ever April growth of the sea-surface algae. Coll., Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University, 6(7): 1-94. Feagin, R. A. and A. M. Williams (2010). Child rapists in Florida could face death penalty under new bill, Police search for man connected to armed home invasion, dog shooting, Local Weather: The heat holds as windy becomes the weather word Friday, Weather is 95% favorable for a liftoff tonight, but teams are keeping an eye on weather along Dragons ascent corridor, Atlantic Beach city commission passes new law to address homelessness, More whales are dying, marine conservation groups are concerned. For those who would like to contribute with a report of Sargassum sighting, please go to this page. This is a record-breaking number, and it indicates that massive waves of sargassum will land on the beaches of Punta . Visit floridatoday.com/subscribe. SARGASSUM Sargassum is a type of brown seaweed that is washing up on beaches in Florida. Also, the majority of Punta Cana is protected by seaweed barriers designed to prevent sargassum from reaching the beaches. For the second consecutive month, Sargassum abundance in the central Atlantic Ocean doubled, again setting a new historical record. The Sargassum Watch System (SaWS) is designed to use satellite data and numerical models to detect and track pelagic Saragassum in near-real time. Dcouverte surprenante dans les sargasses au Mexique ! Depending on winds and current, researchers estimate an early July arrival.. Sargassum seaweed has been a major issue for nearly all Caribbean countries since 2015. The SaWS is meant to provide such a function through producing and sharing customized satellite imagery in near real-time in a user-friendly way. Related: Check here for the local weather forecast. Mexico : Norma Muoz: La gente no est informada de los efectos del sargazo, dice que las afectaciones las mand Dios, Mexico : EL SARGAZO NO SE CONVIERTE EN ARENA, France : Bilan du BRGM : les taux mesurs en arsenic et en chlorure de sodium dpassent les normes imposes, Sargassum is worsening the conditions of the poorest people in Ghana, Un mystre aux proportions ocaniques : des algues sargasses forment dsormais un pont vgtal entre lAmrique et lAfrique, Republica Dominicana : Sargazo llega hasta las costas de Saman afectando las aguas del mar, Mexico : Sargazo, amenaza para el turismo y la salud, Mexico: On Mexicos Caribbean coast, mountains of seaweed grow, Florida USA : Invasion of the seaweed. In fact, the director of Sargasso Monitoring Network stated that efforts to stop the arrival of sargassum have already taken place. The total amount of sargassum in the Atlantic is bigger than what satellites registered last year, which is not very encouraging, he added. Huge Deposits Expected Across The Mexican Caribbean Next Week. An airline also asked for his advice when it was deciding its schedule so as not to load up on flights to sargassum-rich areas during tourist season. Dr. Chuanmin Hu works at the University of South Florida and has been tracking sargassum over a decade. This summer is on pace to match or exceed those years. June 2022 had a record high sargassum amount compared to any previous year, according to Hu. 4301 Rickenbacker Causeway Since 2011, large amounts of Sargassum seaweed appeared in the Caribbean Sea every summer except 2013, creating many environmental, ecological and economic problems in many regions. 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. In fact, many places in Punta Cana are now protected by seaweed barriers in 2023, and the local hotels also have dedicated staff that works diligently day and night to keep the beaches clean. 33756 the neighborhood (50 km) of each coastal pixel and, computing the difference between those values The Sargassum a seaweed that grows in the Atlantic will be arriving and flowing onshore, and it could be extra abundant this year. and high (red). Hydrogen sulfide has a very unpleasant odor, like rotten eggs. 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. The 2022 sargassum season began at the beginning of spring due to a rise in sea temperature, which accelerates the reproduction of the seaweed. Further readings are also available under the Reference page. The seaweed originated from the tropical Atlantic, and is believed to be a result of climate variability and other natural and unnatural processes. St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA Many people visiting the Brevard County coastline in recent days may have noticed lots of stinky seaweed that has washed up onshore. International tourism to the country as a whole surpassed pre-pandemic levels in the first half of 2022, with 10.26 million visitors from January to June, 1.5% higher than the 10.11 million . In doing so, the plants uptake more arsenic because its in a molecular form that's similar to phosphate. Gustavo.Goni@noaa.gov, Chuanmin Hu Remote Sens. According to the Oceanographic Institute, which works in conjunction with the . April 30th, 2022, by University of South Florida Optical Oceanography Lab (huc@usf.edu, szhang26@usf.edu) The maps below show Sargassum abundance, with warm colors representing high abundance. Punta Cana Seaweed Forecast 2023The sargassum season in 2023 is expected to be just as bad as the one in 2022. By spring 2023, a major bloom may develop in the western central Atlantic and the CS. 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 . All indications point to a major bloom impacting the region, starting in the next two months. In this article, we have given detailed information about current sargassum conditions and sargassum season in Punta Cana in 2023, and the forecast for sargassum in Punta Cana in 2023. "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. High-value products from macroalgae: the potential uses of the invasive brown seaweed, Sargassum muticum. Kimberly Miller is a veteran journalist for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Network of Florida. In 2022, Punta Canas shoreline experienced a record-breaking influx of seaweed, ruining the beauty of its world-famous beaches and making it difficult for tourists to explore water activities. In addition, surface currents from the Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM from the National Ocean Partnership Program (NOPP)) are obtained, updated nightly, and made available via the VAS as a layer within Google Earth. endobj 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. Sea turtles typically nest above the high tide line so their eggs stay dry. Website Clearwater Beach See on Instagram Hours: Daily until dark Address: 112 S. Osceola Avenue, Clearwater, FL. Parr, A.E. There are studies looking into renewable ways to convert the seaweed into natural fertilizer, but more research is being done to find long-term solutions. Gulf of Mexico regions. By no means should it be used for commercial purpose, or used for predicting bloom conditions for a specific location or beach. Florida Atlantic University research professor and algae expert Brian LaPointe said years with large amounts of sargassum build on each other because there is so much seed material to start the next crop. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Joaquin Trinanes Now, let us discuss how you check current Sargassum conditions to ensure that your vacation is sargassum-free: The most effective method of monitoring the current state of beaches in Punta Cana is via live cams. The SEAS Program leverages Landsat Satellite Imagery in order to identify floating Sargassum mats, and then factors in local wind/surface currents in order to provide a forecast. Almost all Caribbean countries are expected to face this problem in 2023, as they did in 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. And then people don't want to come to the beach.. As it rots, it gives off a substance called hydrogen sulfide. So, the best way to ensure a sargassum-free vacation in Punta Cana is to either stay on one of Punta Canas seaweed-free beaches, such as Bayahibe or Macao beach or to do some research and stay in hotels that are successfully tackling this issue. Scientists are concerned. Visit this Facebook group to check the current sargassum conditions in Punta Cana. This is the collection of Presentations from the Sargassum Symposium.Feel free to download what you wish. According to Reportur, the amount of sargassum floating in the Central Atlantic Ocean in November 2022 increased to an astounding 6 million tons by December 2022. He was part of a team of scientists that discovered the worlds largest sargassum bloom in the Atlantic Ocean, dubbing it the Great Atlantic Sargassum belt. H his{0l'ViY/I_K[iGDy?nygX*/6GaDMk&*}_\gAbL*95"b-XP|(Ycks. More:Worldwide mystery: What are those things the oceans been dumping on Palm Beach? Based on satellite observations and statistics of historical events, in early February 2018 the Optical Oceanography Lab developed the first 1-page Sargassum outlook bulletin for the Caribbean Sea. More:These mysterious 'devices' keep washing up on Floridas beaches. A record in January does not exactly mean a record in June. Hu, C (2009), A novel ocean color index to detect floating algae in the global oceans, Remote Sens. SargassumseaweedhasbeenabigproblemforCaribbeancountriessince 2015. an A&M Galveston research project dedcated to predicting Sargassum. "Nitrogen appears to be increasing in the Atlantic basin, driving these blooms,"Brian Lapointe, a research professor at FAU-Harbor Branch in Fort Pierce. The forecast indicates the possibility of a medium to high chance of more Sargassum polluting the beaches. These mysterious 'devices' keep washing up on Floridas beaches. The "SaWS Clickable Map" at top of this paragraph shows the current coverage, where any region can be clicked to open a separate page unique to that region. However, if you want to know the current seaweed conditions you can check sargassummonitoring.com. As a result, popular beach destinations on the Dominican Republics northern coast, such as Puerto Plata, are also excellent options for a sargassum-free beach vacation. It grows in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. Beaches up and down the Central Florida coast, at least from . Outlook of 2022 Sargassum blooms in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico* December 31, 2022, by University of South Florida Optical Oceanography Lab (bbarnes4@usf.edu, yuyuan@usf.edu, huc@usf.edu) The maps below show Sargassum abundance, with warm colors representing higher values. Since then, the bulletins have been generated and distributed to subscribers by the last day of the month. Miami, FL 33149, USA These events can cause significant economic, environmental and public health harm. The Dominican Republic is best known for its white sandy beaches with turquoise water. Although the seaweed itself cannot harm your health, tiny sea creatures that live in Sargassum can cause Miles of This Stuff Is Stinking Up Florida Beaches - Videos from The Weather Channel Miles of This Stuff Is Stinking Up Florida Beaches May 10, 2022 Sargassum is at it again in South. huc@usf.edu. Typically, the season for the algae falls in the summer, starting mid-April and reaching its peak in May and June. Robert Webster, lead developer of the original team, passed away in 2015 due to cancer. Whether you are swimming or wading in it it's going to smell bad. 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. 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. In 2022, Mexican federal officials expected the arrival of 32 thousand tons of sargassum seaweed in the country. Ive never seen it like this. Over 44 thousand tonnes of sargassum were collected in 2021 alone, with around 30,000 of that being picked up in May alone. Punta Cana is expected to face a huge sargassum crisis in 2023.Punta Cana Seaweed Season 2022Punta Cana seaweed season usually runs from March to September every yearBest Seaweed-free Beaches in Punta CanaBayahibe, Macao beach, and Uvero Alto. Given the vagaries of ocean currents, it could be it's just a very bad year for Mexico. Sargassum peaks in summer, in June in July, there is no exception," explains Hu. Cozumel SEAWEED Problem (2022): A Detailed Guide!! MS Thesis, University of South Florida, 118pp. However, you must understand that the sargassum is a natural phenomenon. Punta Cana is expected to remain relatively sargassum free in the first three months of 2023. If you like to fish, you may have heard these floating algae mats called the "weed line," and they . It is expected that Punta Cana and other Caribbean countries will receive the same amount of sargassum in 2023 as they did in 2022, or even more than in 2022. This year, though, forecasts predict there will be less of the stinky seaweed than in the previous two years. 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 . in the Gulf of Mexico and tropical Atlantic. Monitoring Sargassum distribution and abundance in the ocean in a timely fashion is of great importance for studying ocean ecology, helping fishery management, and forecasting Sargassum beaching events. 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. 2022; Sargassum is worsening the conditions . A sargassum forecast released this week by the University of South Florida said the amount of sargassum in the Central West Atlantic and Caribbean Sea is higher than previous years, which means . 2023 www.floridatoday.com. We will continue to closely monitor Sargassum coverage, with more updates provided by the end of January 2023. It may be remotely connected to everything including climate change and human activities, but the most plausible theory is that prior to 2011, in the year of 2010, there was a stronger than usual wind and surface ocean current that brought some Sargassum from the Sargasso Sea to the tropic Atlantic, said Hu. Summer 2022 sargassum blew past previous records for June; July dropped a tad and August is pending, but the University of South Florida, which tracks sargassum, says there's so much sargassum floating in the open waters right now that we can expect what they call "beaching" for at least a couple more months. Report inappropriate content 1-10 of 12 replies Sorted by 1 2 SDT 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.