Advertisement

Updated May 6th, 2020 at 12:07 IST

Himalayas' melting snow caps cause spread of toxic algae that can be seen from space

The loss of snow cover in the Himalayas-Tibetan Plateau region is fuelling ‘harmful algal blooms’ in the Arabian Sea, according to recent research.

Reported by: Bhavya Sukheja
Himalayas
| Image:self
Advertisement

The loss of snow cover in the Himalayan-Tibetan Plateau region is fuelling ‘harmful algal blooms’ in the Arabian Sea, according to the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory’s research. The US space agency, NASA also released satellite images which found bloom of the marine species Noctiluca Scintillans, also known as ‘sea sparkle’, lining coastlines around the sea. 

According to the research, the steady decline in snow cover extent over the Himalayan-Tibetan Plateau region is resulting in the stratification of the upper layer of the Arabian Sea at a much faster rate than predicted by global climate models. The coast of the Arabian Sea, on the border of India and Pakistan, have traces of the ‘sea sparkle’ which have formed thick green swirls and filaments. As per the research, these 'sea sparkles’ force out planktons and cause massive destruction to the sea’s food chain which also affects the survival of fishes. 

READ: NASA Uncovers Alluring 'chaos Terrain' In Its Quest To Find Ocean On Jupiter's Moon Europa

‘Most dramatic changes’ 

Joaquim I. Goes, one of the heads of the research team said, “This is probably one of the most dramatic changes that we have seen that’s related to climate change. We are seeing Noctiluca in Southeast Asia, off the coasts of Thailand and Vietnam, and as far south as Seychelles, and everywhere it blooms it is becoming a problem. It also harms water quality and causes a lot of fish mortality”. 

READ: NASA's 'easy-to-build' COVID-19 Ventilator Gets FDA Authorisation For Emergency Use

Goes also informed that the Noctiluca has also expanded to other Southeast Asia parts, including the coast of Thailand, Vietnam and Seychelles. She said that the ‘algal blooms’ not only compete with phytoplankton for replenished nutrients but also feed on the phytoplankton themselves. The study further also provides compelling new evidence of the cascading impacts of global warming on the Indian monsoons and the economic stability of large populations along the Arabian Sea. 

Furthermore, according to Goes, the algal may portend dire consequences over the long term for countries in the region already gripped by socioeconomic problems from war, poverty and loss of livelihoods. The recent study also highlights how tropical oceans are being disproportionately impacted, losing their biodiversity, and changing faster than conventional model predictions. 

READ: Perseverance Rover To Get The Most Advanced Pair Of 'eyes' Ahead Of NASA's Mars Mission

READ: NASA Artemis Mission: SpaceX, Blue Origin And Dynetics Chosen To Design HLS

Advertisement

Published May 6th, 2020 at 12:07 IST

Your Voice. Now Direct.

Send us your views, we’ll publish them. This section is moderated.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending Quicks

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE
a few seconds ago
PM Modi & BillGates
3 minutes ago
Bengaluru Blast: Rameshwaram Cafe Customer Demands Refund for Meal Not Served
4 minutes ago
"We never celebrated Holi after the incident (the murder), I felt that today is Holi for us,” Alka Rai, wife of formerBJP MLA Krishnanand Rai said.
10 minutes ago
LSG Captain KL Rahul After Loss in IPL 2024 1st Match
14 minutes ago
Gautam Gambhir gets into a fight with Virat Kohli
20 minutes ago
Noida Police Slaps Rs 80,500 Fine On 2 Girls For Creating 'Vulgar Holi Reels' On Moving Scooter And Delhi Metro
20 minutes ago
China stocks rise
24 minutes ago
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Whatsapp logo