Sargasso Sea

Dec. 18, 2023

The Sargasso Sea near Bermuda is warmer, saltier and more acidic than it has ever been since measurements began in 1954 — and the impact of such significant changes could be far reaching, researchers have warned.

About the Sargasso Sea:

The Sargasso Sea, located entirely within the Atlantic Ocean, is the only sea without a land boundary.
It is named for Sargassum, a holopelagic, golden drift algae that can aggregate to form extensive floating mats on the surface of the ocean.
This extraordinary open-ocean ecosystem is bounded by currents circulating around the North Atlantic subtropical gyre and is unique for supporting the centre of distribution and abundance for a community of continuously pelagic drift algae.
It provides habitats, spawning areas, migration pathways and feeding grounds to a diverse assortment of flora and fauna, including endemic, endangered, and commercially important species.
The Gulf Stream establishes the Sargasso Sea's western boundary, while the Sea is further defined to the north by the North Atlantic Current, to the east by the Canary Current, and to the south by the North Atlantic Equatorial Current.