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The Sargasso Sea Lauren Seyler
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A Sea Without Shores 1,100 km wide by 3,200 km long – 70°W to 40°W, 25°N to 35°N Bounded by currents: – West: Gulf Stream – North: North Atlantic Current – East: Canary Current – South: North Atlantic Equatorial Current – => North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre Depths of 1,500-7,000 m
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Characteristics Separation from rest of Atlantic Indigenous currents weak, mostly entropious – What goes in, won’t go out Plus: low ppt, high evaporation, light winds = No mixing! Warm, saline, nutrient-poor water
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Brown seaweed with small, berry-like bladders Travels with wind and current Not brought in by Gulf Stream Unique ecological niche J. Craig Venter 1800 species, 148 previously unknown bacterial phylotypes Sargassum
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Deadly Doldrums “Sea of Lost Ships”- contains Bermuda Triangle Dreaded by seafarers for centuries Columbus’s crew feared seaweed Not seaweed, but calms – “Horse Latitudes” Even today, airplanes and cargo ships lost – WHY?
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