The mysterious “green vortex” appeared in the Baltic. Scientists are seriously concerned

With the help of the Landsat-8 satellite, photos of the Finnish bay were taken, while reaching disturbing insights. A green vortex was noticed in the waters of the Baltic Sea, with a diameter of at least several dozen kilometers. According to Jokinen from the Finnish University of Turku, it may indicate the loss of oxygen due to the penetration of nutrients from the arable fields into the water.

Green vortex in the Baltic. What is it and how it was created?

Algae, containing a lot of chlorophyll, may be responsible for the green color of the vortex. The dynamic spread of phytoplankton is certainly served by weak winds and an increased sea water temperature. Experts are not sure what kind of algae can walk about, but they suspect that they are so -called Cyanobacteria-blue-green algae.

Unfortunately, the presence of this type of algae at sea leads to the formation of dead zones and the progressive degradation of the Baltic Sea environment. Phytoplankton and cyanobacteria consume nutrients, leaked by rains from arable fields to rivers and further to the Baltic Sea.

A huge dead zone in the Baltic Sea

The problem is serious because Turku researchers estimated the size of the dead zone for about 70 thousand. square kilometers. There may be no oxygen in such an area and therefore marine creatures. Together with German researchers, the Finns found that such oxygen loss was not observed in the region from 1.5 thousand. years.

They explained that all the inhabitants of Europe were responsible for the described process, although mainly residents of the Baltic Sea coast. Fertilizers flowing down from fields and ordinary sewage go to rivers to later contaminate sea waters. Negative processes are additionally supported by global warming and release of phosphorus from sediment from the bottom of the sea.