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'Like an underwater bushfire': South Australia's marine algal bloom is still killing almost everything in its path

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Summary
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82% Informative

South Australian beaches have been awash with foamy, discolored water and dead marine life for months .

Water testing soon revealed the cause of a harmful algal bloom of Karenia mikimotoi.

The algae irritates fish gills, causes cell death and bleeding.

It also causes hypoxia, or lack of oxygen in the blood, when the algae dies off, leaving marine life to suffocate.

Scientists had hoped strong westerly winds would break it up and push it out to sea.

This bloom already has lasted three months , and there's no guarantee the end is near. Recovery will be slow, as shown in the historical record and other parts of the world. And the risk of a repeat event is high. Further research is needed to keep these ancient organisms in check. Provided by The Conversation.

VR Score

84

Informative language

84

Neutral language

37

Article tone

semi-formal

Language

English

Language complexity

42

Offensive language

not offensive

Hate speech

possibly hateful

Attention-grabbing headline

not detected

Known propaganda techniques

not detected

Time-value

medium-lived

External references

34

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