Is global warming or rising ocean temperature linked to either red tide or the “dead” zone?
Yes, global warming is hypothesized as the cause of more frequent and intensive hurricanes, and may also play a role in red tide blooms as well. Warm water is certainly the driving force for the thermocline that resulted in oxygen depletion that caused mortality along the bottom in the “dead zone.” Q: We know that red tide has a short-term effect on human respiratory systems (coughing, etc.). Is there evidence of any permanent effects on human health? A: The first health studies on the effect of red tide on humans began in 2001 and have documented that people with chronic lung diseases have reduced lung capacity after a red tide exposure. Another aspect of the human health studies included a statistical analysis of emergency room data. This analysis showed that the number of people going to the emergency room for pneumonia increased by 19 percent. The number of coastal residents admitted to the emergency room also went up by 54 percent during a red tide, compared to coastal residents a
