Must see: Seas turn green in China as algae invades
Digital Reporter
Thursday, July 9, 2015, 12:10 PM - A blanket of green algae has covered at least 35,000 square kilometres of water along the coast of eastern China’s Shandong province.
The bloom, otherwise known as enteromorpha algae, has been a regular occurrence since 2007, according to the South China Morning Post. However, it’s been quite the spectacle recently in the seaside towns of Qingdao and Rizhao.
As if #ChinaMeltdown wasn't bad enough, try #ChinaGreenBlob: Algae invades #China #beaches https://t.co/vp4M3Pf7sA pic.twitter.com/7KXX8LqjKl
— Curtis S. Chin (@CurtisSChin) July 9, 2015
Although the New York Times reported during a 2013 algae bloom that scientists still had no concrete explanation for it, researchers have attributed the phenomenon to climate change and the increase of seaweed farming in neighbouring Jiangsu province, South China Morning Post reports.
Although green algae is not known to be harmful to humans, it can cause widespread destruction to marine life.
Seas in eastern #China turn green as algae covers #Qingdao beaches. View the full gallery: https://t.co/hnbjpULItM pic.twitter.com/tFr6wifByM”
— 乙莉安 (@yilianchan) July 9, 2015
Chinese authorities spent millions of dollars on algae cleanup in 2008, the South China Morning Post reports. Officials deployed the People’s Liberation Army to rid the beaches of the green mess as the waters were being used for sailing events during the Beijing Olympic Games.
Here are some recent photos of the annual green scene. It seems people are still enjoying the beaches despite the algae bloom.
Source: The New York Times | South China Morning Post
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