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Satellite imaging

Massive emissions of toxic gas in the Atlantic

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Abstract

Recurrent eruptions of toxic hydrogen sulphide gas in the waters along the Namibian coast off southwestern Africa have been considered to be local features with only limited ecosystem-scale consequences. But satellite remote sensing has revealed that these naturally occurring events are much more extensive and longer-lasting than previously suspected, and that the resultant hypoxia may last for much longer. The effects on the marine ecology and valuable coastal fisheries of this region are likely to be important.

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Figure 1: Sea-surface distribution of suspended sulphur granules.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ocean Space Ltd,

    Scarla J. Weeks

  2. Oceanography Department, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa

    Scarla J. Weeks

  3. Oceanography Department, IRD, IDYLE Project, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa

    Andrew Bakun

  4. National Marine Research and Information Center, Swakopmund, Namibia

    Bronwen Currie

Authors
  1. Scarla J. Weeks
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  2. Bronwen Currie
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  3. Andrew Bakun
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Scarla J. Weeks.

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Weeks, S., Currie, B. & Bakun, A. Massive emissions of toxic gas in the Atlantic. Nature 415, 493–494 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/415493b

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/415493b

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