MYSTERIOUS MASS

15km2 of Mar Menor lagoon waters affected by puzzling white cloud

A ‘WHITISH mass’ of water measuring 15 square kilometres has appeared in Spain’s Mar Menor lagoon.

Satellite images analysed by the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC) have revealed the worrying phenomena in Europe’s biggest ‘ínland sea’.

The mass extends between Los Alcazares, Los Urrutias and Perdiguera Island with the IEO-CSIC saying that the area is registering chlorophyll concentration values ‘up to four times in Murcia higher than in other parts of the lagoon’.

IEO-CSIC researcher, Juan Manuel Ruiz, said: “The presence of phytoplanktonic proliferations is common, but not with colouring.”

Phytoplanktons are a key part of freshwater and sea ecosystems creating organic compounds from carbon dioxide dissolved in the water.

Solar first

IBERDROLA has been given government permission to build its first solar energy power plant in the Valencian Community.

Previous project submissions had been rejected in the area due to their negative impact on the environment.

The FV Alhorines facility in Villena will cost €24 million to set up on 70 hectares of empty land next to existing power substations. The plant will produce energy from 92,000 photovoltaic modules and generate around 84,000 megawatt hours of electricity per year.

Iberdrola says that that's the equivalent of supplying 25,000 homes and saving 11,500 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.