Sargassum

The Sargassum group at the Laboratoire d’Études en Géophysique et Océanographie Spatiales (LEGOS) brings together oceanographers, modelers, and remote-sensing specialists to study the dynamics of pelagic Sargassum in the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean. Their work aims to better understand its origin, transport, variability, and coastal impacts.

The group’s objective is to link basin-scale oceanic processes to coastal Sargassum arrivals by combining observations with numerical modeling. This integrated approach supports improved monitoring and predictability of Sargassum events. The team develops seasonal early-warning systems and contributes to more effective management of Sargassum impacts in affected regions.

Scientific focus :

• Coastal stranding processes and regional impacts in the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, and West Africa
• Sources and growth of pelagic Sargassum in the tropical Atlantic
• Transport pathways driven by currents, winds, and mesoscale circulation
• Seasonal to interannual variability, including extreme years