NASA can see dark, polluted Carolina rivers spilling into the ocean from space

Experts and officials warned it would happen and it did. But it’s so bad that even NASA can see it from space. The image above and others like it show dark, polluted water from three rivers in North Carolina, pouring into the Atlantic Ocean.

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In rivers and streams all over the world, tannins and sediment are responsible for making the water look less than clear. But the issue is more serious than just a bit of organic matter. The issue is when extra organic matter from things like floods “become a pollutant, leading to reduced water quality and potentially harming wildlife by changing the pH of the water or its oxygen levels.” ¹ (Hurricane floodwater can also contain harmful bacteria, like Vibrio vulnificus, which can lead to serious infection or death in humans.)

“As floodwaters from major storms move downstream, they carry those pollutants, which can create ‘dead zones’ or areas where fish and other animals can’t live.” ² And, as UNC scientist Hans Paerl explains, “In the discharges after hurricanes Floyd and Matthew, these dead zones grew large enough to affect shellfish and finfish habitats for miles. Fish kills lasted for months.’”³