algal blooms
Water turns green
Algal blooms are rapid, excessive growths of algae in bodies of water, often triggered by nutrient pollution from agricultural runoff or sewage.
Some blooms turn water visibly green, red, or brown.
When blooms die and decompose, they deplete oxygen, killing fish and other aquatic life.
Certain species produce toxins harmful to humans and animals: The lake was closed due to toxic algal blooms.
Removal of breathable gas
- dead zonesAreas lacking life or signal
- anoxiaAbsence of oxygen supply
- fish killsMass aquatic animal deaths
- suffocationFatal lack of air
decomposition · stratification · Gulf of Mexico · Chesapeake Bay · Baltic Sea · Lake Erie · mass mortality · ecosystem collapse
Photosynthetic aquatic drifters
- cyanobacteriaPhotosynthetic bacteria producing oxygen
- diatomsSingle-celled silica algae
- chlorophyllLight-harvesting plant pigment
- photosynthesisLight-to-sugar conversion in plants
biomass · aquatic ecosystems · food web · carbon sink · bioindicators · limnology · estuaries · coastal waters
Vital dietary substances
- phosphorusGlow-in-dark element
- nitrogenElement seven, colorless gas
- fertilizersSubstances enriching soil
- runoffExcess water drainage
agriculture · pollution · nitrates · phosphates · eutrophic · mesotrophic · sedimentation · water quality
Toxic algae discoloring seawater
- neurotoxicDamaging to nervous system
- hepatotoxicDestructive to liver cells
- shellfish poisoningIllness from toxic mollusks
- paralyticUnable to move voluntarily
amnesic · diarrhetic · biotoxins · beach closures · drinking water contamination · liver damage · skin irritation
Uncontrolled plant expansion
- spreadTo distribute widely
- expansionIncrease in scope
- surgeSudden powerful increase
- outbreakSudden eruption of trouble
dominance · infestation · blanketing · saturation · rapid growth · discoloration · green water · density
oxygen depletion
Removal of breathable gas
- dead zonesAreas lacking life or signal
- anoxiaAbsence of oxygen supply
- fish killsMass aquatic animal deaths
suffocation · decomposition · stratification · Gulf of Mexico · Chesapeake Bay · Baltic Sea · Lake Erie · mass mortality · ecosystem collapse
phytoplankton
Photosynthetic aquatic drifters
- cyanobacteriaPhotosynthetic bacteria producing oxygen
- diatomsSingle-celled silica algae
- chlorophyllLight-harvesting plant pigment
photosynthesis · biomass · aquatic ecosystems · food web · carbon sink · bioindicators · limnology · estuaries · coastal waters · freshwater
nutrients
Vital dietary substances
- phosphorusGlow-in-dark element
- nitrogenElement seven, colorless gas
- fertilizersSubstances enriching soil
runoff · agriculture · pollution · nitrates · phosphates · eutrophic · mesotrophic · sedimentation · water quality · turbidity
red tide
Toxic algae discoloring seawater
- neurotoxicDamaging to nervous system
- hepatotoxicDestructive to liver cells
- shellfish poisoningIllness from toxic mollusks
paralytic · amnesic · diarrhetic · biotoxins · beach closures · drinking water contamination · liver damage · skin irritation
overgrowth
Uncontrolled plant expansion
outbreak · dominance · infestation · blanketing · saturation · rapid growth · discoloration · green water · density · accumulation
- environmental harmair pollution, water pollution, pollution, oil spills, acid rain
- Eco-crisesclimate change, global warming, oil spill, deforestation, biodiversity loss
- environmental threatshabitat loss, deforestation, pollution, climate change, invasive species
- algaechlorella, kelp, seaweed, chlamydomonas, seaweeds
- pollution effectsdead zones, fish kills, eutrophication, oxygen depletion, waterborne illness
- sea phenomenawaves, tides, currents, storm surges, rogue waves