All articles tagged with #algal bloom
Clear Lake in Northern California has experienced a significant algal bloom, turning its waters cloudy and green. The bloom, likely composed of toxic blue-green algae, is exacerbated by human activities such as agricultural runoff and faulty septic systems. This environmental issue threatens the lake's recreational activities and poses health risks.
A striking image captured by NASA's Landsat 8 satellite in July 2018 shows a massive algal bloom in the Gulf of Finland, part of the Baltic Sea. The bloom, consisting mainly of cyanobacteria, formed a 15.5-mile-wide spiral and created a large "dead zone" due to decreased oxygen levels in the water. These blooms have increased in size and frequency due to nutrient run-off from human activities and rising sea temperatures, exacerbating the problem.
A striking satellite image captured by Landsat 8 in July 2018 shows a massive algal bloom in the Gulf of Finland, forming a 15.5-mile-wide green spiral. While visually stunning, these blooms create toxic "dead zones" by depleting oxygen levels in the water, suffocating marine life. The frequency and size of such blooms have increased due to human activities and climate change, with the Baltic Sea experiencing its lowest oxygen levels in 1,500 years.
A harmful algal bloom, known as a red tide, off the coast of California has sickened or killed hundreds of sea lions and dolphins since June 8. The bloom is caused by naturally occurring algae that produce a neurotoxin called domoic acid. Sea lions and dolphins get poisoned when they eat small fish contaminated with the toxin. Symptoms include seizures, foaming at the mouth, and lack of appetite. While sea lions can be treated, dolphins are largely untreatable and often arrive on shore already dead or dying. The prolonged and severe bloom is a cause for concern among scientists, who believe it may be a result of human activities and climate change.