Abstract
In a recent study, Sosa-Gutierrez et al. (2022,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL097484) evaluated the potential impacts of
tropical cyclones (TCs) on the Atlantic pelagic Sargassum using
satellite-based Sargassum maps, 86 hurricane tracks during 2011
– 2020, and statistical analysis. The results showed an average drop of
40% in Sargassum coverage under TC trajectories, attributed to
Sargassum sinking. However, there appear two issues: 1) the
Sargassum maps contain large uncertainties due to methodology
used in developing the maps. The impacts of these uncertainties on
change detection are largely unknown, especially along the TC
trajectories where cloud cover prevails; 2) there is a lack of a
“control” experiment in the logic to infer causality. Based on these
observations and arguments, while it is possible that TCs may have
significant impacts, either positively or negatively, on pelagic
Sargassum, a revisit appears necessary to use improved
Sargassum maps and better experimental design before drawing
conclusions.