The mass was first discovered by a civilian boat from Wainwright, and was reported to the U.S. Coast Guard for concerns that it could have been an oil spill. Analysis of samples taken by the North Slope Borough government and sent to a lab in Anchorage determined that it was a type of marine alga.[3]
The mass was discovered floating in the Chukchi Sea, a shallow stretch of the Arctic Ocean that spans the distance between western Alaska and the northeastern coasts of Russia. Typical algae blooms are common in similar areas, shallow waters where light can penetrate to the sea bed.[4] However, locals reported that there was no recollection in any communities in the area of any sort of mass like it.[3]
Appearanceedit
One strand of the mass was estimated to be 12 to 15 miles long.[5] It was frequently described by those who saw it as 'hairy' or 'stringy', with scientific analysis explaining it as a type of filamentous alga.[4] It was also reported to have a distinct odor.[6] Though toxicity tests on the organism have yet to be conducted, concern is minimal as the area is not host to commercial seafood production, though locals do fish and hunt there.[3]
The algae are noted for their color, which is black. This is considered to be unusual for marine algae,[5] which are typically shades of green or red.[4] Several hypotheses have been put forth about the cause of this color. Terry Whitledge, director of the Institute of Marine Science at the University of Alaska Fairbanks postulated that it could be due to the algae having undergone some level of decomposition.[4]
Referencesedit
^Loy, Wesley (2009-07-18). . Time. Archived from the original on July 21, 2009. Retrieved 2014-12-10.
^Hunter, Don (2009-07-15). "Huge blob of Arctic goo floats past Slope communities". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 2014-12-10.
^ abcLoy, Wesley (2009-07-18). "Arctic Mystery: Identifying the Great Blob of Alaska". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
^ abcdHOPKINS, KYLE. "Black goo afloat off Alaska coast identified as algae | Juneau Empire - Alaska's Capital City Online Newspaper". juneauempire.com. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
^ abO'Carroll, Eoin (2009-07-17). "Giant mysterious blob found floating off Alaska coast". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 2014-12-10.
^"Mystery 'goo' moving through sea in Alaska". NY Daily News. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
Wikinews has related news:
Blob off Alaskan coast identified
April 13, 2024
blob, chukchi, algae, blob, name, given, large, black, algal, bloom, that, first, spotted, floating, chukchi, between, alaskan, cities, wainwright, utqiaġvik, july, 2009, contents, discovery, location, appearance, referencesdiscovery, location, editthe, mass, . The blob was the name given to a large black algal bloom that was first spotted floating in the Chukchi Sea 1 between the Alaskan cities of Wainwright and Utqiaġvik in July 2009 2 Contents 1 Discovery and location 2 Appearance 3 ReferencesDiscovery and location editThe mass was first discovered by a civilian boat from Wainwright and was reported to the U S Coast Guard for concerns that it could have been an oil spill Analysis of samples taken by the North Slope Borough government and sent to a lab in Anchorage determined that it was a type of marine alga 3 The mass was discovered floating in the Chukchi Sea a shallow stretch of the Arctic Ocean that spans the distance between western Alaska and the northeastern coasts of Russia Typical algae blooms are common in similar areas shallow waters where light can penetrate to the sea bed 4 However locals reported that there was no recollection in any communities in the area of any sort of mass like it 3 Appearance editOne strand of the mass was estimated to be 12 to 15 miles long 5 It was frequently described by those who saw it as hairy or stringy with scientific analysis explaining it as a type of filamentous alga 4 It was also reported to have a distinct odor 6 Though toxicity tests on the organism have yet to be conducted concern is minimal as the area is not host to commercial seafood production though locals do fish and hunt there 3 The algae are noted for their color which is black This is considered to be unusual for marine algae 5 which are typically shades of green or red 4 Several hypotheses have been put forth about the cause of this color Terry Whitledge director of the Institute of Marine Science at the University of Alaska Fairbanks postulated that it could be due to the algae having undergone some level of decomposition 4 References edit Loy Wesley 2009 07 18 Arctic Mystery Identifying the Great Blob of Alaska Time Archived from the original on July 21 2009 Retrieved 2014 12 10 Hunter Don 2009 07 15 Huge blob of Arctic goo floats past Slope communities Anchorage Daily News Retrieved 2014 12 10 a b c Loy Wesley 2009 07 18 Arctic Mystery Identifying the Great Blob of Alaska Time ISSN 0040 781X Retrieved 2016 04 03 a b c d HOPKINS KYLE Black goo afloat off Alaska coast identified as algae Juneau Empire Alaska s Capital City Online Newspaper juneauempire com Retrieved 2016 04 03 a b O Carroll Eoin 2009 07 17 Giant mysterious blob found floating off Alaska coast The Christian Science Monitor Retrieved 2014 12 10 Mystery goo moving through sea in Alaska NY Daily News Retrieved 2016 04 03 nbsp Wikinews has related news Blob off Alaskan coast identified Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The blob Chukchi Sea algae amp oldid 1172990646, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
