Brief
Plankton bloom turns waters around Thailand's Ko Lan island green
A sudden plankton bloom caused bright green water around Ko Lan, prompting beach vendors to report fewer visitors.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Heavy rains and recent flooding have triggered a Noctiluca plankton bloom off Thailand's tourist island of Ko Lan, turning sections of the Gulf of Thailand a bright, pungent green, according to the Independent.
Arvut Munhapon, senior researcher at the Marine Science Research Division of Burapha University's Institute of Marine Science, said his four‑person team collected water samples and measured quality to identify the species. He explained that the colour comes from the Noctiluca plankton.
Researchers linked the bloom to climate‑related factors, noting that warmer seas and nutrient‑rich runoff from fertilizer and wastewater amplify plankton growth. Anukul Buranapratheprat, deputy director of the same institute, warned that the bloom could end in a hypoxic zone, a condition that has become more severe in the inner Gulf of Thailand.
Tourists reported mixed reactions: some stayed in the green water, while others, like 29‑year‑old Latipeya Thantibhapat from Chiang Mai, avoided swimming, fearing skin rashes. Beach food vendors said visitor numbers fell as the discolouration spread.
Key facts
- Heavy rains and floods sparked a Noctiluca plankton bloom off Ko Lan, turning the sea bright green. (independent.co.uk)
- Arvut Munhapon leads a four‑person team studying the bloom for Burapha University's Institute of Marine Science. (independent.co.uk)
- Anukul Buranapratheprat warned the bloom could lead to hypoxic conditions in the inner Gulf of Thailand. (independent.co.uk)
- Tourist Latipeya Thantibhapat avoided swimming due to the unusually green water. (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “Sea around popular tourist island turned a bright smelly green”
