title: Massive emissions of toxic gas in the Atlantic.
abstract: Recurrent eruptions of toxic hydrogen sulphide gas in the waters along the Namibian coast off southwestern Africa have been considered to be local features with only limited ecosystem-scale consequences. But satellite remote sensing has revealed that these naturally occurring events are much more extensive and longer-lasting than previously suspected, and that the resultant hypoxia may last for much longer. The effects on the marine ecology and valuable coastal fisheries of this region are likely to be important.
authors.affiliation: Ocean Space Ltd, Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa. oceanspace@icon.co.za
authors.forename: Scarla J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Weeks
authors.forename: Bronwen
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Currie
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bakun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001267:Atlantic Ocean; D001717:Birds; D004463:Ecology; D005399:Fishes; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000633:toxicity*; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000187:drug effects; D009276:Namibia; D017215:Satellite Communications; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*; D014876:Water Pollution
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide