Hur-ri-cane. For storm-weary Floridians, these three little syllables conjure visions of missing roof tiles, flooded streets and downed trees. So is it possible you misread our headline? Hurricane as friend?! Nonsense ... Or is it?
While there’s no question that hurricanes can be catastrophic, some scientists believe they’re equal parts Jekyll and Hyde when it comes to our environment. Here’s why:
Hurricane Jekyll
Letting It Flow.
When wastewater-treatment-plant discharges and urban runoff combine with slow moving water, algae blooms result, creating a hypoxic area. This diminishes the amount of sunlight that reaches underwater plants, and thereby decreases the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water. Sea life will suffocate if it can’t escape the hypoxic boundaries. Hurricane-force winds help to break up these areas. In fact, NASA has tracked the increased appearance of phytoplankton blooms that follow hurricanes. The size of the storm directly correlates to the amount of phytoplankton growth. And because phytoplankton resides at the bottom of the food chain, this storm byproduct has a positive effect on all animals and organic life forms that rely on them to sustain life.
Preparing for the future.
When hurricanes destroy and re-form beaches, they may also be helping with the creation of new habitats that support dune grasses, salt marsh and sea grasses. It appears that they perform the same cleansing function that forest fires deliver when their space-clearing creates conditions needed for ongoing eco-system health. Some scientists contend that in the long run, mangroves and other tree species benefit from the effects of hurricanes.
Feeding the hungry.
As a hurricane’s storm surge rides the front edge of the hurricane, it pushes water into marshes and rivers. This water usually drains out within a day, but nutrient rich sediment is left behind, further nourishing the marsh. Studies show that hurricanes generally have little long-term negative effect on emergent marsh. Foliage may be stripped, but stimulation from new nutrients quickly returns the beds to their original condition.
Freshening up.
The long term effect of a hurricane’s heavy rain to South Florida’s aquifers is beneficial. Over time, salt water from the ocean and gulf move into the everglades, increasing salinity in the water. The heavy rainfall associated with hurricanes refreshes the aquifers and revitalizes the drinking water.
Hurricane Hyde
Stopping the flow.
Unfortunately, there’s a downside to the power a hurricane wields to disrupt algae blooms (described above); the same power can create them. In the case of Hurricane Charley in 2004, areas of Cayo Costa, Fla., suffered this fate, resulting in widespread fish kills. Phosphorus concentrations doubled.
Wearing us down.
Beach erosion continues to be one of the most obvious and costly effects of hurricanes. Palm Beach County alone has replaced close to 15 million cubic yards of shoreline over the past decade. And 80% of the Leatherback Sea Turtle nests in Southeast Florida disappeared in 2007 when Andrea came calling. And she was only a Tropical Storm.
Sowing the (bad) seeds.
Fierce hurricane winds can bring unwanted guests. The seeds of exotic species are carried by the winds and deposited in vulnerable native habitats. Hurricanes can also increase the spread of bacterial pathogens like the one which causes citrus canker disease. In the 2004-2005 hurricane seasons, occurrences of this disease in Florida quadrupled.
Flooding the gates.
Heavy rains (falling at more than one inch per hour) that cause flooding can result in pollution from sewage, toxic chemicals, rotting organic matter and much more. The release of bacteria can be devastating to humans, wildlife and vegetation.
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