NASA satellite photos show polluted rivers flowing into the Carolina coast

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NASA has just released a brutal comparison of the impact of Hurricane Florence on the Carolina coast as polluted rivers flow into the Atlantic.

NASA's satellites are invited to take time series off the coast of North Carolina, scientists are able to measure and determine the large-scale changes that occur. One of the most dramatic changes is the sudden influx of runoff, polluted by decomposing organic matter, debris and plastics.

In total, the Raleigh branch of the National Meteorological Service estimated that 8,500 billion liters of rain fell on North Carolina during Hurricane Florence.

Here is the unofficial total rainfall of the estimated Florence storm relative to all NCs (actual quantities measured per gauge not included). Using average rainfall over the state, Florence dropped about 8.04 billion gallons of rain over NC. #ncwx

It is estimated that Wilmington, North Carolina, received up to 50 inches of rain in isolated locations. However, the hidden danger is runoff from the rest of the state that flows through the tributaries and major river basins of North Carolina. This has the effect of concentrating the water in a source, to cross the coastal cities and to dump it in the Atlantic Ocean.

As these rivers flow into the Atlantic Ocean, they bring massive amounts of suspended loads. This is the term for all that can be transported in the river in suspension. As you can imagine, in normal times, the river does not flow fast enough to keep only silt and clay in suspension. However, during the record rains, these rivers can suspend orders of magnitude more and more important and deposit them in the ocean.

The dark polluted water shown in the NASA photos is a rough indication of organic matter, plants, organic soils, bacteria, algae, etc. For example, an estimated 4.1 million chickens and turkeys and 5,500 pigs died in the floods caused by Hurricane Florence.

These farms are a major source of pollutants, especially if they enter rivers and the Atlantic Ocean. Scientists believe that organic matter and polluted waters are likely to contain a number of harmful bacteria, which can lead to death.

The image below shows a falsely colored image, where dark brown colors indicate higher concentrations of pollutants and organic matter.

Geologists and oceanographers study such events because they represent sudden surges of organic matter into the ocean. Often, this causes a sudden proliferation of bacteria, which feed on this organic matter. As bacteria become uncontrollable, they literally suck oxygen out of the water. This leads to "dead zones" in the oceans. The Mississippi River regularly triggers massive dead zones in the Gulf of Mexico as the river drains the agricultural heartland of the United States.

We can expect to see beaches with dead fish stranded next, as this influx of organic matter and pollutants causes a dead zone along the coastline of Carolina. Another lingering impact of the deadly hurricane Florence.

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NASA has just released a brutal comparison of the impact of Hurricane Florence on the Carolina coast as polluted rivers flow into the Atlantic.

NASA's satellites are invited to take time series off the coast of North Carolina, scientists are able to measure and determine the large-scale changes that occur. One of the most dramatic changes is the sudden influx of runoff, polluted by decomposing organic matter, debris and plastics.

In total, the Raleigh branch of the National Meteorological Service estimated that 8,500 billion liters of rain fell on North Carolina during Hurricane Florence.

Here is the unofficial total rainfall of the estimated Florence storm relative to all NCs (actual quantities measured per gauge not included). Using average rainfall over the state, Florence dropped about 8.04 billion gallons of rain over NC. #ncwx

It is estimated that Wilmington, North Carolina, received up to 50 inches of rain in isolated locations. However, the hidden danger is runoff from the rest of the state that flows through the tributaries and major river basins of North Carolina. This has the effect of concentrating the water in a source, to cross the coastal cities and to dump it in the Atlantic Ocean.

As these rivers flow into the Atlantic Ocean, they bring massive amounts of suspended loads. This is the term for all that can be transported in the river in suspension. As you can imagine, in normal times, the river does not flow fast enough to keep only silt and clay in suspension. However, during the record rains, these rivers can suspend orders of magnitude more and more important and deposit them in the ocean.

The dark polluted water shown in the NASA photos is a rough indication of organic matter, plants, organic soils, bacteria, algae, etc. For example, an estimated 4.1 million chickens and turkeys and 5,500 pigs died in the floods caused by Hurricane Florence.

These farms are a major source of pollutants, especially if they enter rivers and the Atlantic Ocean. Scientists believe that organic matter and polluted waters are likely to contain a number of harmful bacteria, which can lead to death.

The image below shows a falsely colored image, where dark brown colors indicate higher concentrations of pollutants and organic matter.

Geologists and oceanographers study such events because they represent sudden surges of organic matter into the ocean. Often, this causes a sudden proliferation of bacteria, which feed on this organic matter. As bacteria become uncontrollable, they literally suck oxygen out of the water. This leads to "dead zones" in the oceans. The Mississippi River regularly triggers massive dead zones in the Gulf of Mexico as the river drains the agricultural heartland of the United States.

We can expect to see beaches with dead fish stranded next, as this influx of organic matter and pollutants causes a dead zone along the coastline of Carolina. Another lingering impact of the deadly hurricane Florence.