Saharan Dust – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Daineko Natalia This week, Florida is expected to be slammed by a huge dust plume the size of the United States that is traveling across the Atlantic Ocean. Strong winds swept small sand and mineral particles from the surface of the Sahara Desert, creating the dust cloud.
Saharan Dust Sunrise over Atlantic Ocean – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Rolando Otero Massive clouds of dust from Africa’s Sahara Desert are transported westward by wind during the Saharan dust season in the Atlantic, occasionally all the way to the United States. Now, where is the dust? A second swath of lighter dust was
Florida State Park Preservation Act – Pictured: Woman kayaking – Photo Credit: Joanne Date/Shutterstock The bill signed into law by Florida State Parks is anticipated to prevent commercial development on public lands. The State Park Preservation Act, HB 209, was approved by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Thursday. In addition to requiring public hearings for
Alligator Florida Everglades — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Thierry Eidenweil The U.S. Forest Service said that officials had temporarily closed one of Central Florida’s most popular springs to paddlers due to a huge alligator that is acting aggressively. About 300 miles north of Miami, in the Ocala National Forest, the Juniper Springs watercourse is affected by
2025 Python Challenge – Burmese Pythons — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Heiko Kiera As part of a larger conservation initiative to save the Everglades from invasive Burmese pythons, Florida wildlife officials have announced the dates for the 2025 Florida Python Challenge. The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
Aerial View of Florida Everglades at Sunset Hour – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by ocudrone According to recent study from the University of California, Davis, sulfur used on sugarcane crops in South Florida is seeping into wetlands of Everglades National Park, where it sets off a chemical process that turns mercury into dangerous methylmercury, which
Seaweed pollution along Miami Beach, Florida — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Sergii Figurnyi According to Florida scientists, they have discovered a “tipping point” in the Atlantic Ocean’s meteorological conditions that led to massive clumps of toxic seaweed flooding Caribbean beaches in recent summers. A surplus of nutrients in the water, such as nitrogen and phosphorus from
Seven Mile Bridge – Florida Keys — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Mia2you A brush fire forced authorities to temporarily close U.S. 1 on Wednesday, causing hours of traffic jams for anyone attempting to enter or exit the Florida Keys. According to Monroe County spokeswoman Kristen Livengood, Card Sound Road, the only other route that connects the
Alligators Florida Everglades — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Thierry Eidenweil Alligators have been living in Florida’s wastewater pipes. According to a University of Florida research, there were 35 distinct animal species in the stormwater sewer systems beneath Gainesville, including armadillos, frogs, raccoons, and yes, alligators. According to the study, as urbanization and development increase, “human-modified environments”
Red Tide — Courtesy: Shutterstock — smcfeeters A growing “red tide” algae bloom off the southwest coast of Florida is threatening well-known tourist beaches and is being blamed for the deaths of fish and dolphins, prompting environmentalists to urge Governor Ron DeSantis to declare an emergency. The outbreak, which scientists say started in the Gulf