The Halocline revisited with Professor Anthony Turton
The Halocline revisited with Professor Anthony Turton: ‘Halocline’ – the scientific name for the dirty-water-line that we all hate to love.
Sure it’s dirty and polluted nowadays. But it never used to be. Before humans started really breeding around here (for a political cause nonetheless), the brown water that came down in every flood, served its vital role, without the sewage and pollution of said humans.
The roles of the Halocline
As the halocline moves in and out of the estuary, on a macro scale due to the flood pulse – and on a micro scale when the tide pulse takes over in the dry season, it performs a multitude of roles.
- Balances the PH of the ocean: in rainy season this large-scale operation by the halocline dumps thousands of tonnes of alkaline material into the ocean which importantly brings the acidity of the ocean back in line.
- Biological triggers: as the halocline moves in and out of the estuary that it’s plume comes from, a multitude of marine species use this change to either spawn with or hunt to.
- Structure: As Professor Turton elaborates, the ocean is vaste, and the halocline represents a huge change in environment when it accesses the ocean – fish come from afar to capitalise on this periodic staging.
So we are super-blessed to be here on the Kwazulu-Natal South Coast. And to be a part of this natural occurrence. Almost could be called a phenomenon. That happens non-stop right in front of our eyes. If not for the Professor, we would still be complaining about it!
Unfortunately, the halocline these days has a tarnished reputation. It has been smeared by the brush of the prevailing party. As sewage and other non-organic pollution is mercilessly sent down each and every river in South Africa, to the sea, this huge failing manifests itself in one of our greatest and most-loved resources…
The beach
All this organic and non-organic pollution is not simply dissolved away by the ocean. No chance. Counter-currents and wave action make sure that most of the solids end back on the beach. And the liquid pollution stays with itself as salt water is more dense and does not simply mix with the polluted water. No, that stays on top, where the visiting tourists get to enjoy it the most when they swim in the ocean.
This is how you get tepid estuaries and beaches that are completely unsafe to swim in. Sure, when the rains abate after having washed most of the evidence away, things get beautiful again. But for most of the year, the municipalities just easily win over the public. And pollution goes unchecked. And people get sick.
Water Tests
Are carried out by municipalities. But one day is most definitely not the same as the next. If you test one beach, by the time you publish those results, the composition of the water at those beaches will have changed.
Especially Durban where the nature of the beaches and the bay means that water circulates therein for ages before finally being discharged.
Do not believe anyone who says it is safe to swim in brown water. Especially if it’s government.
The real pandemic plaguing society is blind belief in authority. Question everything. From your municipality, to pharma, to corporate activities to any search result page on YouTube. Question it. And decide for yourself after processing as many pertinent facts as you can. Covid brought this fact out clearly for everyone to see.
“It is much easier to fool a man, than to convince him that he has been fooled.” – possibly Mark Twain
When it clears up and the brown water finally dissipates, check in with us here at Umzimkulu Adrenalin where we can safely get you out there and into the action.
Learn about more failed municipalities at Water Woes on YouTube.
