Florida's Gulf Coast Battles Deadly And Smelly Red Tide (npr.org)

Greg Allen, writing for NPR: Florida this week declared a state of emergency because of a slow-moving natural disaster -- red tide. Red tide is toxic algae that have persisted off Florida's Gulf Coast for nearly a year. In recent weeks, the algae bloom has worsened, killing fish, turtles and dolphins and discouraging tourism on some of the state's most beautiful beaches.

Scores of dead fish were visible on the shore of Manatee Beach on a recent morning. There was a smell from the fish, but something more -- an acrid smell that can make you cough. Mary Vanswol, who was at the beach with her husband, James, said, "Uh, the smell is terrible. And it's affecting my lungs. I'm coughing, not so much him, but I am. It's just sad to see all the dead fish." The Vanswols live nearby and usually go swimming. But not today. After getting a look at the dead fish and the murky, slightly reddish-hued water, Mary Vanswols said they were leaving. "I wouldn't even walk along the edge of it. I just don't think it's safe," she said. Robert Weisberg, an oceanographer at the University of South Florida whose lab produces seasonal and short term forecasts of red tide, told Gizmodo a confluence of ocean circulation and environmental factors are likely responsible for initiating the bloom. Others experts are pointing to the potential role of human-driven nutrient pollution in helping to maintain it.

Comments

Don't worry, they're a swing state

[rsilvergun]

they'll get plenty of federal funding. California, OTOH, better hope those wild fires burn themselves out.

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[mspohr]

Part of the problem is that their idiot governor, Rick Scott (R), deleted funding for control of red tide. He doesn't believe in environmental regulations or climate change so didn't think it was necessary to inconvenience the sugar plantations by putting controls on their pollution.

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[sittingnut]

your comment and the main post imply the assumption that red tide is man made and unnatural.
nature by itself can be "toxic", kill "fish, turtles and dolphins", "discourage tourism on some of the state's most beautiful beaches", can have an "acrid smell that can make you cough", prevent "usual swimming", etc etc
it is impossible to be a true nature lover and not "look at the dead fish and the murky, slightly reddish-hued water" and other such things. only people living in an artificial bubble containing a man made fantasy of wholly harmful and wholly beneficial mother nature will think otherwise.

if any thing, preventing and removing the "red tide" is an example of man destroying natural environment for his own good.

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[b0s0z0ku]

Fertilizer runoff from plantations feeds the algae. "Reverend" Scott cut funding for water quality enforcement, including regulating the farms' use of fertilizer. So yes, it's related. But of course, "Reverend" Scott thinks that Jeebus, concealed carry, and the free market solve everything. (Throw in a bit of Medicare fraud for lubrication, since we're talking about Rick Scott.)

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[b0s0z0ku]

Red tide is natural. It's also increased by runoff containing manmade fertilizers into the ocean. The "control" part is about preventing unneeded runoff, not mucking with nature.

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[iggymanz]

er no

these blooms are natural and happen off coasts all over the world, for longer than man has been making tools. they've been going on including around florida for longer than the USA has existed.

imagining they can be "controlled" is just laughable.

are you going to blame the Republicans for anthrax in deer poop?

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[luis_a_espinal]

Yeah - the florida governor is able to control oceanic currents. These algae blooms happen. Ever hear of the Red Sea? Yeah - it's been called that since 2500BC for the same reasons as this algae bloom, well before any Republicans got your panties in a twist. Take off your hippie hat for a few seconds and try to think rationally.

That's not what he said. Quit the hyperbole.

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[jellomizer]

The governor cannot control the immediate problems, however with some leadership the environment of local areas can be better managed. As well if we can get enough politicians in charge who just don't hate scientists. We can have some policies around from slowing the problem.
Even as a state governor if stupid polices from the feds laxing environmental controls, your state could force stricter rules.

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[b0s0z0ku]

True. It's also true that dumping fertilizer runoff into the ocean increases their size and duration. The issue here isn't the red tide per se -- it's how long it has lasted.

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[Gilgaron]

Perhaps not republicans, but you could certainly blame humans! That was introduced into the soil by cattle.

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[mspohr]

If you bother to read TFA (the second one, which may be a bit too much to ask), you'll see that human pollution and climate change are causing this red tide to be much worse than the "natural" events of the past.

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[mspohr]

https://theconversation.com/wh...

One key aspect of rehabilitating polluted lakes, rivers and estuaries is knowing whether actions are having a positive effect. This requires long-term environmental monitoring programs, which unfortunately have been scaled back in Florida and many other states due to budget cuts.

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[Anonymous Coward]

The stupid in this post hurts my head.

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[DarkOx]

Yes well than real solution would be to let the mangroves etc move back it; If you get rid of the coastal golf courses, lawns, and artificial sandy beaches there will be no man-made fertilizers to deployed to run anywhere. As per usual this is just one typically left leaning group saying "your environmentally destructive practices are unacceptable but mine are perfectly alright because my intentions and feelings..and by the way you can't build that wind turbine in view of my house."

 

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[LynnwoodRooster]

If only the State of California didn't consistently slash it's forest-fire fighting budget. But it's more important to build a 160 kph train from Bakersfield to Modesto, so...

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[Anonymous Coward]

After reading that the problem is primarily due to ocean current (rtfa), this mental giant immediately jumps to Republicans=evil. Just tired of the immediate blame that some jackasses place on the nearest Republican whenever a natural occurrence takes place.

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[LynnwoodRooster]

You mean that annual event called red tide?

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[DigressivePoser]

they'll get plenty of federal funding. California, OTOH, better hope those wild fires burn themselves out.

Sorry to breath fire on your narrative:

Aug 04 2018 SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced that the White House has approved California’s request for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration submitted to the President earlier today to help with the impacts of the wildfire in Shasta County.

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[turkeyfish]

Yes let's apply political ideology and pretend that Scott's policies regarding the discharge of waste from sugar plantations, agricultural runoff, and livestock yards are in now way connected to the Red Tides. Funny how this argument so closely parallels the climate denial meme that "the climate has always changed" therefore, ignore reality. The truth is that if it weren't for the ocean currents, Gulf Current and Florida Loop Current, the situation would be a lot worse. These tides didn't arise by blowing in from somewhere else. They arise from an overabundance of nutrients in the water, stemming largely from uncontrolled agricultural runoff. The same is true for the Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone, which results from the runoff of fertilizers used by corn farmers in the Midwest finding there way into the Mississippi River Drainage System. The reality for Scott, Floridians, and its tourist industry is that these are now going to be permanent fixtures of Florida's coastlines for years to come until the policies or the politicians are changed. Perhaps there is a bit of irony in the fact that the Red Tied trump Trump's GOP promises and delivers is not the one that the public wants.

BTW, the "Red" in Red Sea more likely refers to the direction South. The Greeks attached colors to each cardinal direction as did a number of Asiatic languages, that for South being red. The Greek Historian Herodotus used interchangeably with the name referring adjective southern. In English these cardinal colors were earlier used in similar fashion, such as the Black Sea, the White Sea and the Yellow Sea. The ancient Greeks had no knowledge of microorganisms.

As for thinking rationally, you ought to give it a try rather than mindless appeals to ideological orthodoxy. Who knows? You might look good in a hippy hat. It might even be good for your health, relative to the tin-foil hats that seem to be the rage in many GOP circles these days.

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[jythie]

If you kept reading, you would see that the ocean currents are only a part of the problem, and mostly how the blooms start further out. Agricultural runoff is believed to be sustaining the near-shore bloom, but funding was cut for things like measuring and monitoring so as to not potentially threaten upstream industries.

Re: Don't worry, they're a swing state

[Anonymous Coward]

Jesus and ccw could solve any problem

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[Anonymous Coward]

"these are now going to be permanent fixtures of Florida's coastlines for years to come" ? You Don't know that at all. The RedTide comes and goes in cycles.
You seem to be educated so I'm surprised you didn't interject, I Believe, since that what is it , your opinion , not fact.

At least you didn't blame scary Big Sugar for causing the pollution. There is plenty of that going around, but the research and monitoring numbers say otherwise.

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[nospam007]

Ever hear of the Red Sea? Yeah - it's been called that since 2500BC for the same reasons as this algae bloom‘

Same thing on the Red Planet I suppose.

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[nospam007]

If you get rid of the coastal golf courses,“

Sssssss! Lèse-Majesté!

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[b0s0z0ku]

Yep, golf courses and lawns, as well as fertilizer and herbicide/pesticide use on them, should be regulated with a heavy hand. Maybe not get rid of existing ones, but having a less-than-perfect turf isn't the end of the world.

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[Anonymous Coward]

Maybe he should visit at the Baltic Sea to see what is being done in the surrounding countries, their agricultural sectors and land management to control the blue algae blooms and oxygen depletion, ignoring Russia of course. Wait, there must be a connection. ;)

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[hawkfish]

Yes well than real solution would be to let the mangroves etc move back it; If you get rid of the coastal golf courses, lawns, and artificial sandy beaches there will be no man-made fertilizers to deployed to run anywhere. As per usual this is just one typically left leaning group saying "your environmentally destructive practices are unacceptable but mine are perfectly alright because my intentions and feelings..and by the way you can't build that wind turbine in view of my house."

I'm a lefty who doesn't play golf, you insensitive clod.

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[Anonymous Coward]

I thought the origin of the Red Sea was actually the Reed Sea, and by breakdown over the years it became Red Sea.

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[humasyed]

Great Article

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[Anonymous Coward]

Rick "Skeletor" Scott also decided Florida didn't need so much mosquito control until Zika caused another national emergency fueled revelation. Scott deserves his day in court and a fair trial where the witnesses aren't bought!

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[Freischutz]

Yeah - the florida governor is able to control oceanic currents. These algae blooms happen. Ever hear of the Red Sea? Yeah - it's been called that since 2500BC for the same reasons as this algae bloom, well before any Republicans got your panties in a twist. Take off your hippie hat for a few seconds and try to think rationally.

No but the Florida governor is able to encourage his legislature to use regulations, inspections and fines to control the agricultural runoff that severely aggravates algae bloom. But then again, being a free market fundamentalist like most other right wing-nuts, he's probably waiting for the free market to solve this problem or maybe he's waiting for the free market to expose it as a Chinese hoax? Whichever it is, I'm not holding my breath. As for the name of the Red Sea being due to the algae bloom, that explanation is disputed. In some oriental languages the cardinal directions are associated with colours, so Red stands for South just like black stands for North, as in Black Sea. Herodotus, for example, used the the terms 'Southern Sea' and 'Red Sea' interchangeably.

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[Anonymous Coward]

The sheer amount of idiots in this thread, like yourself, either willfully or stupidly missing the point is truly staggering.

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[Anonymous Coward]

Big Sugar is the land owner south of Lake Okeechobee who has been preventing the normal flow of fresh water from the lake into the everglades. Scientists pointed out how this was a huge problem over a decade ago and since then Floridians have been fighting the good fight to get freshwater flowing back into the glades. Big Sugar doesn't want to give up that land (the soil there is literally called black gold, the most productive soil in the USA). They've fought tooth and nail preventing anything be done to resolve the millions of gallons of algae filled runoff from being dumped into the St Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers which flow into the Gulf and Atlantic. The red tide bloom referenced in this article is precisely off the coast of the Caloosahatchee outflow into the Gulf of Mexico and appeared after the largest run-offs by volume in 1 year. Just because Big Sugar isn't the main source of pollution doesn't mean they are innocent.

Re: Don't worry, they're a swing state

[Locke2005]

But... how do we talk Jesus into doing concealed carry? And doesn't a concealed carry permit require valid ID? Who is listed as Jesus's dad on his birth certificate?

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[Locke2005]

Nope, it's called the Red Sea because it's red, because of algae. https://www.infoplease.com/ask...

Re: Don't worry, they're a swing state

[rnturn]

> Who is listed as Jesus's dad on his birth certificate?

Well, since He's supposed to be the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, that'd be Himself. (Obviously, some sort of kinky time travel thing took place way back when.)

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[Anonymous Coward]

bzzt, try again, Lake Okeechobee is a water way under federal control.The Feds are the ones in charge of the water quality within and the current releases of water from it to the gulf. Gov Scott can't do shit about whats going going on there. The water quality in the lake is from decades of federal mismanagement.

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[omnichad]

Did you read your own link?

If the bloom moves inshore, nutrient runoff from land may promote bloom expansion. A bloom can linger in coastal areas for days, weeks or even months.

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[Anonymous Coward]

'Fires happen all the time and are natural, they happen in forests all over the world, longer than man has been playing with flint'

Yes, and man can also cause fires that burn out of control. Just because 'nature' does something, doesn't mean that humans and their carelessness won't also cause it or cause it to be worse. Yes lightning can cause a forest fire, but you know what else will? A refinery blowing up.

Red-Tides are caused by excess nutrient. Sometimes it is due to natural run-off. Most of the time, its caused by irresponsibility on the part of man.

My god, if I was as stupid as you I don't think I could handle living with myself. I would carry guilt that I was going to infect the rest of humanity with my idiocy.

Please, for the love of God, do us all a favor and if you won't kill yourself, at least get your balls clipped.

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[Anonymous Coward]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yam_SuphYam Suph (Hebrew: -) has traditionally been understood to refer to the saltwater inlet ... In Jewish sources, 1 Kings 9:26 yam suph is translated as "Sea of Reeds"
===
https://www.ucg.org/the-good.../the-bible-and-archaeology-the-red-sea-or-the-reed-se...3 Jun 1997 - Others have adopted the idea that the Israelites took a central route and crossed a shallow lake north of the Red Sea called the Reed Sea
===
https://www.gotquestions.org/red-reed-sea.htmlSo the Hebrew phrase yam suph can be translated “Sea of Reeds” or “Reed Sea” or even “Papyrus Marsh.” Is this phrase, commonly translated “Red Sea,” in ...
===
First three google links. They say you're wrong.

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[MoaDweeb]

It will all be fixed when rising ocean levels (which of course are not happening) drown Florida.

Re: Don't worry, they're a swing state

[Anonymous Coward]

> Who is listed as Jesus's dad on his birth certificate?

Joseph. Because the Bethlehem registry head about dozens of virgins immaculately conceiving children every day, but nobody was stupid enough to believe them.

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[EETech1]

I used to spend every winter in Florida for work, and I often stayed to burn up my vacation (use it or lose it) and go camping.

Since I spent most of my time in the keys and on the Atlantic side of the state for work, I tried to spend time on the gulf side to check out. There was always a little bit of foul smell, and yuck, but one year it was particularly bad.

I ended up camping in the mangroves as it was the only acceptable place to be because of the stench and who knows what nasties that were washing up on the shore.

It was actually really fun (but that's a story for another time)

As always, it looks like just another patch of overgrown whatever, but it's so much more!

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[EETech1]

Someone is trying to make you believe that forest fires were just as plentiful when it was lightning starting them instead of careless humans (example throwing lit cigarettes out the car window)

And they lasted just as long before humans took all the water.

How the hell is anyone so delusional?

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[Mashiki]

Yeah but that's not what's happening. Rather farmers put fertilizer out, then get hit by sudden runs of storms from either coast. Which is what happens in a lot of cases, hell we just finished having a similar problem way way way north up here in Ontario. Weather forecasts have 0% of rain for literal days, farmers go out and spray fertilizer, and surprise! Next 4 days of nothing but rain off and on.

Poor weather forecasting has a much bigger impact on fertilizer runoff then farmers "dumping" run off, on top of that making more then what you use is a waste anyway - as it comes out of your bottom line. As it's very easy to determine the mix these days, and find out what farmer was using what and fine them into the dirt over it.

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[Anonymous Coward]

... man made and unnatural.

Mosquitoes are natural: Gutters, tanks and agricultural dams aren't. While plenty of hippies ignore overpopulation by pests like pigeons or feral horses (and also unique animals such as kangaroos), overpopulation of mosquitoes is roundly denounced.

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[Anonymous Coward]

"these are now going to be permanent fixtures of Florida's coastlines for years to come" ? You Don't know that at all. The RedTide comes and goes in cycles.
You seem to be educated so I'm surprised you didn't interject, I Believe, since that what is it , your opinion , not fact.

At least you didn't blame scary Big Sugar for causing the pollution. There is plenty of that going around, but the research and monitoring numbers say otherwise.

To be fair, I think what he was saying was that with cunts like you around it's pretty much certain. And that seems entirely reasonable.

Re: Don't worry, they're a swing state

[gtall]

No, no time travel involved. There was an "incident" at conception.

Re:Don't worry, they're a swing state

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm sure that if Florida would only elect a 14 year old boy or a geriatric tranny, all their woes would be instantly solved.

Well, it'd probably be an improvement.

eh? nearly a year?

[Anonymous Coward]

WTF, why does the summary/article say "nearly a year". I remember this 20+ years ago! Even before then!

This is an unfortunate reoccurring ... uh, occurrence. Nothing new here. Things always dying from it too.

Re: eh? nearly a year?

[Anonymous Coward]

They did say "seasonal" which means it comes and goes. But this time it has stuck around for nearly a year which made it a state emergency.

clarification required

[nimbius]

for those in Florida, this is the common name for a worldwide phenomenon known as an algal bloom when it is caused by species of dinoflagellates and other organisms.

it is not to be confused with The Red Bloom: a scourge which plagues Florida in the form of an overweight bald methamphetamine addict in a cape fashioned from a bath rug who steals urinal mints from hotel bathrooms and once consumed nearly ten kilos of frosting at a pastry factory in Tallahassee before being subdued by a combination of police dogs, tazer, and coronary artery disease.

Re:clarification required

[Nidi62]

it is not to be confused with The Red Bloom: a scourge which plagues Florida in the form of an overweight bald methamphetamine addict in a cape fashioned from a bath rug who steals urinal mints from hotel bathrooms and once consumed nearly ten kilos of frosting at a pastry factory in Tallahassee before being subdued by a combination of police dogs, tazer, and coronary artery disease.

I'm not familiar with that subspecies of Homo floridensis. Does it have a specific range? It must be a sight to see in the wild, although it's probably best to avoid observation during it's mating season.

Re:clarification required

[Anonymous Coward]

yuor mom like my dinoflagellates

Re:clarification required

[PopeRatzo]

it is not to be confused with The Red Bloom: a scourge which plagues Florida in the form of an overweight bald methamphetamine addict in a cape fashioned from a bath rug who steals urinal mints from hotel bathrooms and once consumed nearly ten kilos of frosting at a pastry factory in Tallahassee

But now he owns Mar-a-Lago, so bite it, lib.

Re:clarification required

[nospam007]

"I'm not familiar with that subspecies of Homo floridensis. Does it have a specific range? It must be a sight to see in the wild, "

They migrate there, usually in their seventies. They drive big Cars, Cadillacs and they feed very early in the evening, eating stuff called 'early bird special' specially prepared for them by the local population.
You can approach them very carefully, but don't spook them with political talk or they get apoplectic.

Re: clarification required

[Anonymous Coward]

Stop bringing up CreamyDumpty's old cosplay hobby. He is in California now.

Dead Fish

[Anonymous Coward]

Rahm Emanuel

Re:Dead Fish

[turkeyfish]

They don't seem to have this problem in Chicago, although they have been known to release Green dyes into the water on St. Patrick's Day. In Chicago the problem is with live grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idelle that were introduced into the Mississippi River and threaten the ecology of the Great Lakes.

Re:Dead Fish

[Anonymous Coward]

Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Hit him on the head with a fish, and he just swims there in the fishery

Red tide?

[DontBeAMoran]

You know what comes after a red tide? A red storm!

The Russians are coming!

Re:Red tide?

[Nidi62]

You know what comes after a red tide? A red storm!

The Russians are coming!

Would you say there is a Red Storm Rising?

Re:Red tide?

[Anonymous Coward]

Red Storm Rising is near Red October, right? You might have to Hunt for Red October, though.

Re: Red tide?

[Anonymous Coward]

Better call a Red Alert.

Re:Red tide?

[Kernel Kurtz]

Wolverines!

happening for thousands of years

[iggymanz]

uh, these red blooms are a recurring thing

you'll find they happened in 2014, 2012, 2007, 2005.... 17th century...

so change your underwear and calm down, you alarmist tards

Re:happening for thousands of years

[Gilgaron]

This is a worse one than usual; the locals were blaming allowing water from Lake Okeechobee to be diverted down the Caloosahatchee to prevent flooding the sugar plantations when I was visiting. I don't know if this has been scientifically confirmed, but it would make sense that it would increase the severity of an algae bloom.

Re:happening for thousands of years

[iggymanz]

no, these have been going on since algae has existed

imagining "x or y might increase the severity" without a shred of proof is just scare mongering.

seriously, these are natural. they've been going on since algae existed...for *billions* of years!

Re:happening for thousands of years

[b0s0z0ku]

Algae are plants. Fertilizer feeds plants. Allowing runoff from a lake heavily contaminated with fertilizer runoff to be dumped into the ocean has a predictable result. Science, baby!

Re:happening for thousands of years

[Gilgaron]

It isn't without a shred of proof, it is a documented phenomena that fertilizer runoff worsens algae blooms. It'd be impossible for it not to occur, really... the microbes are going to eat what you give 'em. The only thing at issue is whether it exacerbated this bloom, which while I believe the evidence is currently pointed to "yes" is a harder question to answer definitively, given that they occur naturally and there were potentially other affects that may have contributed more to how bad this bloom is.

Re:happening for thousands of years

[Anonymous Coward]

I have lived here (on the east coast of Florida, but with a similar problem) for all my 56 years. While we occasionally have algae blooms they're becoming more frequent, arrive earlier, and last longer. To top it off the last few years our algae blooms have been found to be toxic. I've fished and dived my entire life here in Martin County and it is getting worse each year.
The Big lake Okeechobee drains west through the Caloosahatchee canal/river to the Gulf of Mexico, and east through the St. Lucie canal/river to the Atlantic Ocean. It used to naturally flow south, to the Everglades. But farming (a lot of sugar can cultivation) south of the lake has resulted in the the water being redirected through the two canals I mentioned previously.
If the water could be sent south, where no one lives but alligators, I believe the problem would diminish.

Re:happening for thousands of years

[Anonymous Coward]

WTF?

You are mentioning something near Miami, this red tide is near Sarasota, literally the other side of the state. If you are a moron, as you appear to be, don't post.

Re:happening for thousands of years

[Gilgaron]

Yes, the lake is diverted into the river which goes over to Sanibel. You can see the map on Wikipedia if you're curious; this is all a ways south from Sarasota. My understanding is that the link from the lake to the river was manmade. You can also easily Google articles from all the times the lake has been drained by that river, I did so before posting to check my spelling. Sanibel hadn't been hit by the red tide quite yet when I was there, but they're inundated with dead wildlife now.

Re:happening for thousands of years

[parkinglot777]

no, these have been going on since algae has existed

imagining "x or y might increase the severity" without a shred of proof is just scare mongering.

seriously, these are natural. they've been going on since algae existed...for *billions* of years!

Read this news. Want more? Here is another one for you. When you said "without a shred of proof," it demonstrates that you are ignorant because there are plenty of "shred of proof" but you aren't trying to even look for one.

Re:happening for thousands of years

[iggymanz]

hey genius, none of that speaks of blooms off Florida

first link is of bloom near mexico

2nd feature is a bunch of circles off the coast of everywhere... yes those blooms have been going on off the coast of everywhere for all time of life on post-oxygenated earth

thanks for random google spew

Re:happening for thousands of years

[iggymanz]

other things than industrial fertilizer have been doing it too, for all of history

science indeed.

Re:happening for thousands of years

[parkinglot777]

Hey genius, you are the one that don't understand the issue. The problem is NOT about red tide occurrence, but it is the effect being expanded. Those links are related to explanation why, and that is related to the issue. Again, not about red tide occurrence as you attempt to mislead the whole issue.

Re:happening for thousands of years

[Anonymous Coward]

And yet your responding to a post about the governor - " deleted funding for control of red tide."

Re:happening for thousands of years

[eriks]

That's only partly true. The last "red tide" of this scale happened from 2004 to 2006. However, the number of dead animals on the beaches seems to be unprecedented this time, probably because the "red tide" is accompanied by a blue-green algae bloom, which is caused by a different organism, although has the same proximate cause: too much for the algae/bacteria to eat. The governor has declared a state of emergency, so even he's taking it seriously (now). Probably at least partly because of the potential billions in lost tourism dollars, though that's really closing the barn door after the horses are out.

The link to agricultural runoff is not something that is being made up by hippy-dippy environmentalists. It's a very real, well-documented phenomenon, and has happened virtually everywhere that large-scale agricultural pollution is allowed to run unhindered into the sea.

I spent a lot of time as a kid (in the 70s & 80s) in Lee county, and "red tide" during that period usually just meant that you couldn't (safely) eat the local seafood, not that it was washing up dead on the beach.

Having said all that, Florida (at least where the people are) is one of the most heavily-modified environments in the world. There would be hardly any buildable land through most of coastal Florida if it were not for the ubiquitous drainage ditches, tunnels, canals and other ground works to keep the water out of buildings and off of roads. And even with all that you can't build a basement. The whole state is basically a sandbar, with the water table at or just barely under ground level. Why anyone wants to live there at all is beyond me.

Re:happening for thousands of years

[Plus1Entropy]

other things than industrial fertilizer have been doing it too

Care to name the ones that are causing this particularly severe outbreak?

Re:happening for thousands of years

[omnichad]

This metastudy has all the resources you might need to conclude that science has in fact been done.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/p...

Re:happening for thousands of years

[gtall]

You mean the governor is taking his election seriously, he wants to be a senator so he can help do to the country what he's done to Florida and its coastal waters.

Re:happening for thousands of years

[thegarbz]

Yeah of course. Since humans exhale CO2 clearly my car has no impact.
Since you stubbed your toe and thus feel pain, don't criticise me when I kick you in your balls for your stupid comment.

Re:happening for thousands of years

[Gilgaron]

Of course, wildfires are natural and yet we budget to control them. See also, flooding, hurricanes, tornadoes. As with red tide, wildfires and flooding in particular are impacted by human activity so we can even budget for more than repair.

Re:happening for thousands of years

[martinfb]

Yes, "Red Tides" are a known recurring natural phenomena.

Yet, this "alarmist" notice is relatively warranted as the occurrence and persistence is far, far greater than has ever been recorded.
And, the toxicity of this particular strain is higher than usual.

Seems prudent to me for any intelligent species to keep both an eye on this and perhaps determine the causes and remedies.

Who's the "tard" here?

GOP's Red Tide

[turkeyfish]

Trump has insisted that a Red Tide is coming. The Florida GOP has now gotten behind their leader to make it happen by putting in place GOP environmental policies that make will make Red Tides a permanent fixture of Florida coastlines for years to come. .

Re:GOP's Red Tide

[Anonymous Coward]

Red Tide > Blue Wave

Sounds Legit

[Anonymous Coward]

After all, Mary Vanswol did say that the smell was terrible and made her cough and want to leave.

Let us offer then our hopes and prayers

[Swave An deBwoner]

Let us offer then our hopes and prayers then that the Blue Wave will very soon do away with the Red Tide.

Re:Let us offer then our hopes and prayers

[DigiShaman]

A Blue Wave will usher in a Red Tsunami - COMMUNISM! (hammer and sickle)

Re:Let us offer then our hopes and prayers

[Swave An deBwoner]

Better dead than Red. Vote Democratic and cast off the Russian puppetmaster.

Re:Let us offer then our hopes and prayers

[Zephyn]

And then it all evaporates and becomes Purple Rain.

Weird things my son says....

[Anonymous Coward]

Instead of 'having a poop'
he says
'having a hartpalp'

weird innit?

 

globalization warming

[Anonymous Coward]

Hope you like red tide and jellyfish.

Re:eh? nearly a year?

[turkeyfish]

Nothing of this magnitude (more than 150 miles of coastline affected) has happened in recent history.

Thoughts and prayers

[chthon]

Let your conservative, christian friends help you out.

Re:Thoughts and prayers

[Anonymous Coward]

We will. And we'll let the heathens fend for themselves since you have no souls.

Re:Thoughts and prayers

[gtall]

Well golly, we should be ready for a miracle on removing the bloom any day now. Care to make any predictions for us heathens?

Sahara all over again

[DredJohn]

Has anyone checked for Solar plants being used to destroy toxic waste but are actually dumping it into an underground river?

Re:Sahara all over again

[Anonymous Coward]

Nope, but this might be relevant.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/trevornace/2016/09/23/massive-sinkhole-leaks-radioactive-water-into-floridas-aquifer/

Red, smelly and dangerous...

[hyades1]

The GOP jokes just write themselves.

Re: Red, smelly and dangerous...

[Plus1Entropy]

I agree! As a big, strong, straight, cis-male like you, I too scorn the company of women!

What are they good for anyway?

Re:Red, smelly and dangerous...

[Anonymous Coward]

Thankfully, your side has a decided lack of wit.

Not that it matters

[WillAffleckUW]

About 80 percent of Florida will be below sea level by 2050.

Re:Not that it matters

[Anonymous Coward]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/broward-politics-blog/fl-reg-climate-change-sofla-20170221-story.html

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says sea level has been rising over the past century, and the rate is increasing.

According to the Southeast Florida Regional Compact Climate Action Plan, updated in October 2015, sea level will rise 6 to 10 inches by 2030, 14 to 26 inches by 2060 and 31 to 61 inches by 2100.

Red state?

[Locke2005]

Dammit, Trump supporters, stop bathing in the ocean!

Crimson tide problem?

[SeaFox]

Maybe they should see about relocating their state farther from Alabama.

Its catastrophe is near.

[Anonymous Coward]

It's signal of the Apocalypse.

Re:Its catastrophe is near.

[hamburger lady]

if only it was a smelly green tide, then it would be a sign of the abroccolypse.

Red Tide every day

[ir0nHat]

In our sweatshop cubicle farm it is a smelly "Red Tidal Wave"

Not red tide

[Anonymous Coward]

Not red tide, Crimson Tide. Although I did hear the crowd say roll tide.

That's the trouble with science

[rsilvergun]

a scientist says "signs point to yes" what that means in colloquial speech is "Hell yes". Scientists don't like speaking in definites, but voters hate it when you sound unsure. They think you're lying to them.

Re:That's the trouble with science

[Gilgaron]

Yes, they also hate it when people change opinions based on new evidence ('flip floppers'), whereas to scientists that's 'not being an asshole'

old vs new environmentalism

[Reverend Green]

Climate change alarmists have done much disservice to the honorable cause of environmentalism.

When you shout at the top of your lungs, all day every day, "Global warming! Global cooling! Carbon! Ocean levels will rise by ten meters in a decade! The sky is falling! Reeeeeeeeeeeee!" - people start to think you're an unhinged crank.

Whereas when you say, "Hey, let's not dump industrial chemicals into the river, that might have really bad consequences" - pretty much everyone agrees.