Natural Phenomenon - Red Tides

A common natural phenomenon that is not completely understood is red tide. Red tides are also known as toxic algae blooms because that is the cause of the tides. Red tides occur when microscopic algae and phytoplankton become so densely populated that the pigments they release are visible without a microscope. The name Red Tide is misleading for a couple of reasons. First, Red Tide has nothing to do with the tide at all. The growth of these algae is not affected by the tidal cycle. Second, the pigments of the algae and phytoplankton that cause red tides do not always have to be red. In fact they can also be orange, brown and sometimes green. The accurate name for red tides is actually HAB or harmful algal bloom. Another false fact about red tides is that the algae and phytoplankton are toxic, that is not the case. In fact these organisms are essential to the ocean’s food web and are very valuable to the environment. The pigment that the algae or plankton releases is the toxic element. Red tides or HABs can be triggered by nutrient rich water mixed with prime temperatures and conditions for growth and reproduction of these single celled micro -organisms. Red tides are in fact a growing threat to most coastal water. Red tides can be so harmful those scientists have gone as far to call HABs, marine bio-toxins. Red Tides negatively influence both humans and nature alike.

Red Tides have many negative effects on the environment. Red Tides or HABs can harm many marine organisms. They can kill anything from a simple plant to a very large humpback whale. It is true that algae and phytoplankton are at the base of the food web in the marine environment. They are essential to the survival of many marine animals that depend on algae and plankton for nutrients. However, when these toxic blooms occur, these once essential micro-organisms become like poison to their predators and the effects are catastrophic. These HABs are just harmful to marine life if they are ingested, they can also become so dense that they can actually suffocate other organisms. These algae and their pigments do not necessarily kill directly. Everyday organisms compete for dissolved oxygen and other nutrients in the water, when a bloom occurs the increase in organisms is exponential. Not only are resources being used at an increased rate but also decomposition and waste products in the water are also increased. Some species of these algae and phytoplankton actually carry toxins in their pigments. These toxins are neurotoxins that will harm and destroy normal nerve function. The toxins are not found in all red tides but they are often the cause of shellfish and larger organisms perishing. The Red Tides have many negative effects that affect the marine life and their environment.

Red tides do not only affect nature negatively but they also affect humans. These tides can affect humans both directly and indirectly. Humans are directly affected because it is true that some of the toxins released in the pigments of the algae and plankton can be harmful. Especially during a very dense bloom of algae, these toxins would be in high concentration and have the potential to be fatal even to humans. Humans are affected indirectly through our food resources as well as our source of economy. Because the algae invade the habitats of many organisms that are caught and eaten, many companies and restaurants are affected greatly by Red Tides. Shellfish and other fish are often taken off the market when a Red Tide occurs due to that fact that some types of algae are toxic. If the mussel or clam or even bigger fish, like haddock, ate the algae they could carry the toxin and harm the person who ate it. Also beaches are closed in an event of a HAB. Swimming is prohibited and even boating is discouraged. Red Tides have caused millions of dollars in damages. When beaches are closed, shell fishing and fishing halted, along with the closure of ports, Red Tides can prove to be extremely harmful to the economy. Red Tides are harmful to humans in many ways, whether directly or indirectly.

Scientists have been studying red tides all over the world. As of now, it is still impossible to predict or control these HABs. Scientists are trying to understand the cause of these red tides in order to create a solution. Knowledge about this phenomenon and its consequences will help to reduce the effects on humans. In the future, it may be possible to end these destructive tides.


Works Cited
Anderson, Don. "Toxic Blooms: Understanding Red Tides." Toxic Blooms: a seminar. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. 9 Oct. 2008 .
Collins, Jocelyn, comp. "Red Tide and Shellfish Poisoning." Red Tide and Shellfish Poisoning. 11 May 2006. 9 Oct. 2008 .
"Harmful Algae and Red Tides." Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. 9 Oct. 2008 .

Picture Credits:
Red Tide

Shellfish affected by Red Tide

Ocean Man

The first thing I always notice is the smell. It is a very distinctive smell, one part sweet and one part salty. The smell is so strong it is almost overpowering yet comforting. As I sit there, it lingers in my nose and my memory is jogged. Now I can hear the sounds of the calming crash and roll of the white caps. I feel the granules underneath my feet and in between my toes. When I turn to look, I see nothing and it is wonderful. Open space is so freeing, so comforting. I close my eyes and I see him. My uncle is a tall lanky man. He has a muscular build all topped off with a light brown, almost blond mop. His eyes are a piercing light green and his voice is soothing and low. He has that smell all the time, everyday. Whenever I see my Uncle Tom, I see the ocean. Whenever I see the ocean, I see my Uncle Tom. Each of them have certain characteristics which remind me of the other. Both Tommy and the ocean are playful, passionate, forces of Nature. They are one, never to be separated.
Uncle Tommy and the ocean love to play. As I sit on the beach, I love to watch the waves crash on the wet sand, playing. The Ocean is pretty boring to someone who is not properly acquainted. True, the ocean is a ton of blue green water all in one spot, but it is also much more. I think of the ocean as trapped between the large masses of land that shape it, trying to make it fit into the mold of conformity. “It Tommy, not Tom or Thomas,” says my uncle constantly. My grandparents always shake their heads at this act of immaturity, but that is my uncle. I think of him as a kid trapped in an adult body. He tends to appear boring on the outside, blending with the businessmen of Boston, but he is far from it. His job is to advertise extreme sporting equipment, like snowboards and surfboards and rock climbing harnesses. What kind of businessman insists his clients address him with a childhood nickname? The same man who convinces his company in order to advertise the equipment he must first try it. Tommy is all about the playing in life. To him life is a huge jungle gym and he is going to take advantage, swinging from all the monkey bars, sliding down all the slides, and climbing everything that can possibly be climbed. Tommy especially loves playing with the ocean. He is an avid surfer and was my teacher. He surfs everyday from late March to late November. He would surf everyday of the entire year but New England weather is a bit chilly. He has a connection with the ocean unlike anyone else. Uncle Tommy and the Ocean are like two best friends playing through life.
Another characteristic both Tommy and the Ocean possess is passion. Uncle Tommy was the first to introduce me to his friend, the ocean. When he talks about the water it is like poetry. He talks as if the ocean were a person, alive and well. He sometimes just sits on the beach and has silent conversations with the water. His passion for the ocean is shown through the dedication and love for it. He could never live in a landlocked place. He would lose his best friend. I am glad Uncle Tommy shared the ocean with me. It started with surfing and now my relationship with the water has only grown. Tommy and I go surfing all the time. He taught me how to appreciate the water, allowing myself to float and trust. Uncle Tommy respects the water and the water respects him. Most surfers try to conquer the ocean, my uncle flows with it. The waves crest and he pops up. Smoothly, he glides along the surface defying gravity. The Ocean shows its passion for Tommy by allowing him to do so. The waves always seem perfect for Tommy, as if the water was saving the best waves for him. Yet, the water is calm and yet full of motion. When a storm awakens the sleeping monster, hell hath no fury. The ocean becomes feisty, almost passionate, as it rises to the challenge. It can destroy a coastline like a snack before the feast. Tommy might be one of the most relaxed and laid back people in the world, however he too can be stirred to frenzy. Tommy uses his passion to crush his opponents like waves crashing against the coast. Tommy and the ocean are full of passion.
There are five forces of nature, earth, wind, fire, water, and Tommy. Both the ocean and Tommy are huge forces of nature. When Tommy walks into a room, he appears to be a shaggy haired, chill, thirty-something beach bum who smells of salt and leaves a trail of sand behind. He looks like he has no ambition, yet he built his own house. It is a small beach house just down the road from me. He built his house in such a way that the ocean is always present and that is the way he likes it. The better story is when he built his house. Tommy had just graduated college with a degree in business. He had no job, he had a bunch of debt, and he was still going back to school for a Masters. Instead of doing what most people would do and just get a job, any job, he instead took out another loan. He bought his supplies and land then got to work. He just started to build, no plans, no help, no nothing. He worked on that house of two years and finally it was done. It is a single floor layout where you can see the ocean from any room. A business major with no money or professional help or any idea how to build a model, no less a house, erected a full, up-to-code house that just happens to have a view of the ocean from every single room. Tommy is a force of nature, tempting any opponents that think themselves worthy to battle him. The ocean is literately a true force of nature. It can do damage as well as be very useful. The water can just as easily create a category four hurricane, as it can allow human to use it to transport valuable resources. The ocean cannot build a house, but it can be used for energy and as a source of food. Tommy did complete his Masters and got a very good job, probably the job of his dreams. He is a force to be reckoned with just like the ocean. Strong and powerful, diligent and stubborn, both Tommy and the ocean are forces of nature. Uncle Tommy and the Ocean are and always will be intertwined. Tommy is a part of the ocean. The ocean is part of Tommy. They could not live without each other there for support. I know if he absolutely had to move to a landlocked place, Tommy would survive, however his soul lies in the water. When my uncle is sad or happy or angry or feeling anything, he goes to the ocean. When he is there, it is like watching two old friends talking. Often my uncle will just sit on the beach and absorb, take in the smells, watch the waves, taste the air. The ocean and Tommy share their playful attitudes, their passion for life, and their ability to do things their own way. Tommy is responsible for my deep relationship with the Ocean. Tommy and I go surfing or swimming or even beach sitting all the time. When I am away from the ocean, I feel as though I am a fish out of water, literally. We understand it because we are a part of it: the ocean.

Ocean Dependent

Four hours east of New York City, half an hour north of Providence, forty minutes south of Boston, and west of nothing but Europe, lies a small piece of the United States that I call home. Southeastern Massachusetts is different from anywhere else on earth. It has the fast pace feel of big cities mixed with the relaxed feeling of living on a beach. The coast is lined with small seaside villages from Westport to Provincetown. The Cape is one big suburb of Boston, and holds many valuable assets unique to the area. One of the unique qualities of the Cape is that it is surrounded by water on three sides. The ocean has an enormous impact on the area. The economy, recreational activities, even the way we build our houses, all depend on the water that surrounds us.

The economy of the Cape is based around the ocean. The major industries associated with the southeast are seafood and cranberries. These two things seem like they would come from very different areas however, that is not the case. It is so beautiful to drive along the roads in the early morning to see all the fog rising off the bogs; however, the best view is from the air, fly over the Cape in the fall and see the red checkerboard made by the bogs.These bogs are so successful because of the very high water table in the area, due to the proximity to the ocean. The bogs get plenty of water and damp soil to allow growth, while the weather of the area stays cool to chill in the fall. The bogs explode into berries, ripe for picking, giving the farmers opportunity for great profit. One of the biggest cranberry companies in the world, Ocean Spray, is based on the Cape. Cranberries are not only profitable but also well loved as a food on the Cape. They are in everything from chocolate covered to breads and muffins, to just plainly dried. The other major industry is much less surprising. Seafood obviously comes from the ocean and that is something of which the Cape has no shortage. The most common seafood, excluding shellfish, is white fish like haddock, sol, and of course cod along with bigger fish like swordfish. Shell fishing is also a popular industry. Scallops, clams, quahogs, mussels, lobsters, crabs, are all found in abundance. The two most important industries on the Cape, cranberries and seafood, depend on the Ocean.

There are many things to do in Southeastern Massachusetts that one can take part in for fun that involve the Ocean. There are beaches everywhere. The whole coastline is open for beachgoers and there is even an area consisting of over 40 miles of protected beaches called Cape Cod National Seashore. At the beaches, swimming, surfing, skim boarding, kite boarding, sailing, kayaking, and almost anything else dealing with the water is available for participation. The beaches are not the only water-based activities; the Cape Cod Canal also draws a crowd. This man-made canal breaks the Cape off from the main state of Massachusetts. It is a narrow canal that allows boats to cut through without having to sail around. Along the Canal is a trail that allows walking, running, biking, and rollerblading. There is also a train that crosses the canal on a type of Drop Bridge. All of these activities bring in a lot of tourists, which also supplements the economy, which once again can be traced back to the ocean.

Houses are one thing that is necessary everywhere. The ocean shapes the houses that are built. Although the high water table is conducive to growing cranberries, it is not for building houses. Basements are almost an impossible unless they are built on top of the ground soil. Digging any deeper than 3 feet will draw water and is unsuitable for building a foundation. Houses close enough to the shore will be built on stilts. These stilts are to raise the house off the ground in order to protect it from nor’easters or hurricanes or floods. The water does not limit house building indefinably it just limits the choices. Either a really tall house built on top of the ground or a sprawling layout that covers a lot of land. This is not necessarily a bad thing just a different way to build houses.

Cape Cod is a very unique area that is completely dependent on the ocean. Its economy would be nothing. No cranberries, no shellfish, no tourists would equal very low profit which in turn would lower the value of the area. The recreational activities also involve the water. No matter what season there is always an activity to do, like ice fishing for winter, kayaking for spring, swimming for summer, and surfing for fall. The ocean even affects how the houses are built. Stilts and no basement are the norm for the area. All of these things make the Cape unique. Without the ocean it would not be the same. I think that the ocean has shaped me as well. I will never stray far from the ocean.