Almost 200 square miles (500 square kilometers) of the Yellow Sea off China are covered by a massive bloom of green algae, according to a report from China's Xinhua news service.
The bloom has spread to almost 7,400 square miles (19,050 square kilometers) in total and is expected to grow, Xinhua reported, citing the North China Sea Marine Forecasting Center of State Oceanic Administration.
The algae bloom threatens marine life as it sucks oxygen from the water although the algae itself is not poisonous, according to the Xinhua report.
Researchers don't know what causes the massive algae blooms, first seen in the Yellow Sea in 2007.
Tons of the green algae had to be removed in 2008 to make way for sailing events at the Summer Olympics.
"We don't know where it originated and why it's suddenly growing so rapidly," Bao Xianwen from the Qingdao-based Ocean University of China, told the China Daily earlier this month. "It must have something to do with the change in the environment, but we are not scientifically sure of the reasons."
I thought green algae was a good source of certain nutients. I'm surpised the Chinese are not harvesting it for commercial processing or even eating it...
Who said they weren't?
Can't biodiesel be produced from algae? If not biodiesel, then can cellulosic ethanol be produced from this? This would be a fantastic harvest of energy! At the very least, harvest the stuff and use it to fertilize next year's agricultural fields. If it's killing fish, then this stuff must be removed, but something good should come of it.
I just wish stupid middle class voters would spread as fast as green algae. Bachman-Palin 2012!
Bachman and Palin would be a total disaster for the whole world.
If they have any brains they can turn it into BIO Diesel, that should run things for a while.
If you think Chinese don't have any brains then why the u.s owe them over $1 trillion dollars?
If they're so smart, why would they give one-quarter of their entire economy to a nation that is so obviously heading towards bankruptcy?
I know it's just a lot of a little plant trying to make a living...
But... GLAAHHH!
It has to be an indicator of some major difference in cultural thinking that would drive people to get out in amongst that stuff and PLAY in it.
The most I could bring myself to do would be to scoop some out and see if some bunny or chicken would like it as a salad...
Cant they turn this into biofuel?
I can't believe they are not selling this to Obama for Gas. Must be a misprint. We pay millions in the US to have companies raise this and try to make gas out of it. IT IS AFTER ALL "GREEN".
Why cant algae be pink color? Then it would be so pretty and more welcome. Just sayin
It's Plankton and they're after the Krabby Patty formula! "Yea, you and what army?" "What army?, Look around you Krabs!" "You planted grass?"
The Chinese are using huge amounts of ferilizer that is washed down into the sea. No mystery why there is such a bloom. Google 'exploding watermelons' to see what kind of weird substances they are using to grow their food as fast as possible.
Yup. Same reason the Gulf is dying. We send huge amount of chemical fertilzers into the Gulf via the Mississippi.
talk about your sea of green huh... makes my mouth water, i need a blunt!
Uh, err, duh.... I guess it couldn't just possibly be from the inevitable pollution that comes from overpopulation? Naw! Can't be from that! Not in a million years! Exucse me for thinking such logical thoughts! Let's let it remain a mystery...
Algae bloom in the Yellow Sea? The name and the algae have the same origin.
Chinese laundry. Lots of phosphates, promotes algae growth.
I thought I heard once that algae could be made into a very nutricious food and used to feed the hungry. Is it protein ?
leave to the Chinese to make noodles out of it and export that to the U.S. besides the probable reason for algae boom is the available nutrients or waste product from surrounding industries besides they know nothing of health nor they are concerned of their environment, only time will tell when that entire region will loose more than 200 sq miles of Yellow Sea.
not sure about the protein but i know you can survive off it! the astro-nuts lol use it or a protein from a type of algea to feed the space-cadets... pretty cool stuff
This is USA propaganda. In China algae is good luck sign and natrl afrodesic. The USA is jealous of our good luck and good times in natures candy (algae).
@Jiang Zemin-x,
Dude, that is outright disgusting..
Unless you have the s3x in the green slime, you will never understand. It is amazing experience.
Oh my, I think I just threw up in my mouth..