Sulphur eruption along central west coast

Eileen van der Schyff

Residents at various locations along the central west coast experienced a rather smelly affair  this week with the latest sulphur  eruptions occurring over a large stretch of coastal waters. The smell has now subsided, but the low oxygen content of the water results in billions of crustaceans walking out of the water where it falls prey to equally large numbers of marine birds.

For some residents it is provably the easiest way to obtain rock lobster which walks  out of the water, only to return at higher tides when the oxygen content is a little bit higher than during low tides. A sulphur eruption is caused by decaying marine plants and phytoplankton. The process of decay produces hydrogen sulfide gas (the smell) which is released from the sediments.

To read more: pick up your copy of the Namib Times at any retail outlet in Walvis Bay and Swakopmund. Available in Windhoek at selected stores, at Arandis (Shoprite and Arandis Service Station); Usakos; Henties Bay (Spar; Woermann Brock) and Windhoek (Windhoek: Shoprite Maerua Mall; Shoprite Katutura; Shoprite Ind. Av; Shoprite Lafrenz Industrial; Shoprite Okurayangava; Shoprite U-Save; Fountain OK Foods (Baines); Maerua Superspar).