There’s a mass of toxic seaweed twice as big as the U.S. headed towards Florida just in time for spring break
· Mar 14, 2023 · NottheBee.com

We've got banks collapsing, trains derailing, bikes exploding, a border invasion, and now this?

Fox News is telling us that a huge mass of seaweed, twice as big as the continental United States is on a crash course for Florida.

A giant seaweed bloom – so large it can be seen from outer space – may be headed towards Florida's Gulf Coast. The sargassum bloom, at around 5,000 miles wide, is twice the width of the United States and is believed to be the largest in history.

Drifting between the Atlantic coast of Africa and the Gulf of Mexico, the thick mat of algae can provide a habitat for marine life and absorb carbon dioxide.

I hope you're ready for spring break in Florida! Sand, sun, and a record breaking ginormous blob of seaweed!

However, the giant bloom can have disastrous consequences as it gets closer to the shore. Coral, for instance, can be deprived of sunlight. As the seaweed decomposes it can release hydrogen sulfide, negatively impact the air and water and causing respiratory problems for people in the surrounding area.

"What we're seeing in the satellite imagery does not bode well for a clean beach year," Brian LaPointe, a research professor at Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute told NBC News.

Brian Barnes, an assistant research professor at the University of South Florida's College of Marine Science, told the outlet that the sargassum can still threaten critical infrastructure if it remains in coast waters.

This is affecting the air quality around the Florida gulf coast as well, with residents complaining of irritation and difficulty breathing thanks to the enormous algae bloom.

Here's a few videos:

I love DeSantis and Florida but this is starting to sound like a mountain year instead.

Red tide, a toxic algae bloom that occurs naturally in the Gulf of Mexico, is worsened by the presence of nutrients such as nitrogen in the water. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission warns people to not swim in or around red tide waters over the possibility of skin irritation, rashes and burning and sore eyes. People with asthma or lung disease should avoid beaches affected by the toxic algae.

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