Alex Fox of Smithsonian Magazine writes, "Satellite Imagery Shows Northern California Kelp Forests Have Collapsed."
Researchers say they’re not sure these iconic coastal ecosystems will be able to make a comeback anytime soon. The coastal waters of Northern California are changing. A decade ago, hundreds of miles of the rugged seaside were flanked by thick, swaying underwater forests of amber-green bull kelp that were home to fish, abalone and a host of other species. Now, those forests have been nearly wiped out by a series of environmental events that have been falling like ill-fated dominos since 2013. A new study using satellite imagery and underwater surveys is the latest to confirm that these majestic marine ecosystems have all but disappeared. > Read More
