Relationship between Dam Construction and Red Tide Occurrence in Small Bays and the Seto Inland Sea, Japan with Considerations from the Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

There are many papers on red tide occurrences and eutrophication. Here, we use these data to examine the relationship between dam construction and red tide occurrence in Kesennuma Bay, Dokai Bay and the small bays of the Seto Inland Sea, Japan. Here, for the first time, differences in mechanisms of red tide occurrences in these small bays are demonstrated. Mud overflowing from dams likely induces red tides in these areas as the mud flows out from the mouth of the rivers, is carried along the coast by the longshore current, and then enters and is deposited into small bays. Red tide is considered to be induced by the accumulation of mud and siltation. From data on the locations and year of red tide oc currences in the Gulf of Mexico, the same mechanism as for the occurrence of red tide in small bays of Japanwas found to be applicable.