Karachi: The city has been enveloped in a foul odour, particularly in its coastal areas. This unpleasant smell stems from the decomposition of aquatic plants known as phytoplankton. This phenomenon occurs annually and is linked to changing wind patterns.
Residents first noticed the unusual stench after the monsoon rains ended on September 5. The recent heatwave brought hot and dry weather to the city, combined with winds from Balochistan. However, on Monday night, cloudy skies and shifting wind directions caused the odour to spread across.
Muhammad Moazzam Khan, a technical advisor for WWF, explained that the smell originates from decomposing phytoplankton. These microscopic aquatic plants thrive underwater and grow in large quantities each year. When they die or decay, they release a foul odour into the air. This mainly happens after monsoon season, otherwise when wind patterns shift, said Khan.
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What do Expert Say?
Experts highlight the crucial role of phytoplankton in the Earth’s ecosystem. They serve as the planet’s “lungs,” producing a significant portion of the world’s oxygen—up to two-thirds of the global supply. Phytoplankton inhabit not only salty ocean waters but also rivers and wetlands. While these microorganisms are often invisible to the naked eye, they become noticeable when present in large numbers, forming patches of greenery on the water’s surface.
Phytoplankton generate their own food through photosynthesis, utilizing sunlight and water, and releasing oxygen as a by-product. Their role as oxygen producers is vital to the global food chain, making them essential for maintaining the Earth’s ecological balance.
As Karachi faces this recurring odour issue, residents and officials remain aware of the environmental factors at play. Understanding the relationship between phytoplankton growth and changing weather patterns may help the city manage the impact of these events in the future. For now, residents continue to cope with the foul smell, hoping for a return to cleaner air as the conditions stabilize.
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