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![A small mass of sargassum weed expl0366.jpg A small mass of sargassum weed](/sites/default/files/styles/max_1300x1300/https/s3.amazonaws.com/s3-east-testmedia-noaa.woc.noaa.gov/dam/Photos/legacy/pl23_expl0366.jpg?itok=YQoeE3I1)
Description
A small mass of sargassum weed. The numerous small round spheres arefloats filled with carbon dioxide. These provide buoyancy to the algae. Lines of sargassum can stretch for miles along the oceans surface. The clumpsof floating algae are often concentrated by the strong winds andwave action associated with the Gulf Stream. (Image credit: Islands in the Stream Expedition 2002. NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration | Bruce Moravchik)