NOAA Study Measures Hurricanes' Impact on Undersea Growth

Researchers find hurricanes can alter ocean productivity and biogeochemistry in unexpected ways.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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A new study produced in partnership with NOAA found that hurricanes can have a profound impact on the ocean's surface and deep waters. Researchers tracked the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia, a Category 4 storm that hit Florida's Big Bend region in 2023, and discovered an algae bloom up to 160 feet beneath the surface of the Gulf of Mexico.

Why it matters

The study provides a three-dimensional view of how powerful storms can rapidly reshape the ocean's biological and chemical landscape, from the surface to the deep waters. Understanding these underwater impacts is crucial for scientists to fully grasp the far-reaching effects of hurricanes.

The details

The researchers combined satellite data with ocean surface drones and deep-sea floats to measure how phytoplankton activity was influenced by different ocean currents, including the Mississippi River plume and the Loop Current. They found that the hurricane's winds intensified eddies in the water, depositing nitrate up to 160 feet below the surface and triggering an unexpected undersea phytoplankton bloom.

  • Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida's Big Bend region in August 2023.
  • The study was originally published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science in 2026.

The players

Jennifer K. McWhorter

The primary author of the study, affiliated with the University of Miami's Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies.

NOAA

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which partnered with researchers on the study.

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The takeaway

This study highlights the importance of using advanced technology and interdisciplinary approaches to understand the far-reaching impacts of hurricanes, which can extend well beyond the visible damage on land and into the deep ocean ecosystems.