After seeing all of the flooding and damage near Tampa Bay after the recent hurricane, it’s hard to imagine that these storms can be anything but trouble for our environment. With wind speeds over 175 MPH, Hurricane Idalia definitely made herself known. Despite all of the horror storms such as these can bring, they are truly vital parts of our ecosystem, especially here in Florida. Here are 5 environmental benefits we see after hurricanes:
1. Increased Rainfall
Florida averages 54” of rainfall a year, a large portion of this coming from hurricanes. As a subtropical area, our lush greenery needs a large amount of water to sustain itself.
2. Dispersal of Red Tide and other harmful bacteria
You may have heard of (or smelled) Red Tide, especially if you live along a coast. These harmful algal bloods (HAG), mainly Karenia brevis in Tampa Bay, release toxins that kill thousands of marine organisms a year. Thankfully, the time of year we see the most harmful algal blooms in Tampa coincides with peak hurricane season. The large amount of rainfall and high-speed winds help to oxygenate the water and break up the large clumps of bacteria, giving our marine life some relief.
3. Increased Marsh Nutrient Supply
Hurricanes move sediment from the bay into our marsh areas, bringing large phosphorous deposits inland needed for marsh health. Mangroves absorb damaging winds and flooding, store carbon, and provide vital nurseries for marine life. As with everything, this sediment movement is a delicate balance, and too much can bury mangroves and devastate the marsh ecosystem.
4. Global Heat Distribution
Storms such as hurricanes and tropical cyclones pick up heat from the equator and distribute it to the poles. Without these storms, our equatorial waters would build more and more heat, literally adding fuel to the fire for upcoming storms, making them much stronger and more devastating. On average, tropical storms cool equatorial ocean temperatures by 0.5-1.0 degree Celsius every three months
5. Deep-Sea Nutrients
Through a process called upwelling, hurricanes cause warmer surface waters to mix with nutrient-rich water from the deep sea. These excess nutrients are now like an overflowing buffet for marine organisms that live near the surface. Just like your dog eating the food you drop on the ground, all the excess nutrients sink back down to the bottom, allowing bottom-dwelling organisms to join in on the feast.
No matter how many benefits hurricanes bring, they are still extremely deadly storms that need to be taken seriously. Please visit https://211tampabay.org/hurricane-storm-resources/ for support and resources following any hurricane damage.