High-resolution images of the extreme algal bloom on the western coast of Istria
The algal bloom — this whole summer, reports from swimmers and local fishermen about the ‘sludge’ along the northern Adriatic coastline have been making headlines in Croatian media — and both visitors and locals alike are displeased and eager for the waters to return to normal.
SeaCras brings a series of high-resolution images of the Poreč area, clearly showing the scope of the issue. Red indicates extreme conditions, yellow points to significant issues, and blue represents normal sea conditions.
But ‘mare sporco’, or extreme algal blooms, have been around for a while. For science enthusiasts, here’s a Nature article dating all the way back to 1932.
It’s imperative that we expand the network for monitoring certain sea biochemical parameters at the level of territorial waters and fill the gaps in continuous and reliable data delivery suitable for addressing abrupt weather changes and man-made influences — and with that, allow the local community and tourists who visit these destinations to have easy-to-use resources that help them avoid the ’blooming’ areas.
Only by combining data on the multitude of environmental and anthropogenic factors can we be able to forecast future events such as this one, the algal bloom of summer 2024.
