29th March, 2024
CHIRANJIT MITRA
Beaches along the US West Coast are littered with a heartbreaking sight – countless dead sea creatures.
Location: The phenomenon stretches from California's Monterey Bay to Washington state.
Who's Affected: Tiny blue jellyfish-like creatures called Velella velella are washing up in massive numbers.
Unusual Sight: While strandings are normal, scientists are alarmed by the sheer volume.
Why Now? Possible causes include extreme weather patterns or changes in ocean currents.
Unique Creatures: Velella are nicknamed "by-the-wind-sailors" due to the small sails that help them drift.
Ecosystem Warning: This die-off highlights the fragility of ocean ecosystems and the potential impacts of climate change.
Scientists are urgently investigating to understand this mass mortality event.