Each year wildfires can have devastating consequences to their surrounding environment. As wildfire season approaches, scientists have evaluated how the wildfires of the past have influenced ecosystems. One connection that scientists have made is that the Australian wildfires that burned nearly two years ago have contributed to massive algae growth in the Pacific Ocean.

After the Australian fires, scientists observed the rapid appearance of algae that was measured to be around two thousand miles wide in the Southern Pacific Ocean. Normally when excessive algae grows in the water, it is because of runoff from nearby farms; however, this was not the case for this algae bloom. According to a study published in the Nature journal, this algae growth was caused by smoke that came from Australia’s wildfires.

Algae growth can have devastating effects on ocean ecosystems. Algae blooms often cause a lack of oxygen that other plants and animals in the ocean may need. Even if the sea life around an algae bloom does not die, the natural food chain in the area is altered.

Still, there is a benefit to an increase in algae in oceans. Some algae absorb carbon dioxide, which is helpful in combating climate change. However, the damage done by algae blooms in ocean environments often far outweighs the potential benefits.

In the United States, people are familiar with how wildfires can affect areas thousands of miles away –  just as the Australian fires affected the ocean. When fires burn in California, it is not unheard of that the smoke can reach as far as New York. This smoke is also capable of being blown over the oceans. As a result of this, some ecosystems have also been affected by California wildfires. According to Vox, the Thomas Fire in 2017 caused the marine ecosystem around the Santa Barbara Channel to be harmed from algae that grew as a result from the smoke from the fire.

Each year, the size and number of devastating fires in California continues to increase. Even though California wildfires have not harmed the ocean ecosystem to the same extent that the Australian wildfires have,  fires continue to become more devastating each year; it is possible that California wildfires will further harm the ocean ecosystem in the future.

According to Madison Liao (11), “After learning about the impact algae blooms can have on smaller ecosystems in AP Environmental Science, [she has] seen just how devastating the effects of an algae bloom can be on smaller ecosystems, so it is sad to see that fires have caused algae blooms in the ocean.” Wildfires are not just going to disappear, and neither will their harmful effects on the ocean. As long as wildfires continue to grow in size and number, they will continue to harm ocean ecosystems.