Knowra Algal bloom Algal bloom An algal bloom is a rapid increase in algae or cyanobacteria in an aquatic environment. Some blooms discolor water, produce toxins, or deplete dissolved oxygen.
Eutrophication : The enrichment of water with nutrients that can stimulate excessive plant and algal growth. Excess nitrogen and phosphorus often supply the nutrients that drive blooms.
Harmful algal bloom : An algal or cyanobacterial bloom that harms organisms, ecosystems, or people through toxins or other effects. This subset distinguishes damaging blooms from blooms without evident harm.
Remote sensing of algal blooms : The use of satellite or airborne observations to detect and track blooms across water bodies. Satellite imagery can identify changes in water color over large bloom-affected areas.
Cyanobacterial bloom : A rapid increase in cyanobacteria in water, sometimes producing toxins or surface scums. Cyanobacteria are bacteria, not algae, yet their blooms are often grouped with algal blooms.
Phytoplankton : Microscopic photosynthetic organisms that drift in water, including many algae and cyanobacteria. Blooms arise when populations of these drifting organisms grow rapidly.
Red tide : A visible discoloration of water caused by dense populations of certain microscopic organisms, often dinoflagellates. Some marine blooms turn water red or brown, though not every red tide is toxic.
Chlorophyll-a : A photosynthetic pigment used as an indicator of phytoplankton biomass in water. Chlorophyll measurements help estimate bloom abundance, though they do not identify toxins.
Non-toxic algal bloom : An algal bloom not known to produce harmful toxins or cause substantial ecological damage. Not every bloom is harmful, even when it is dense or visibly discolors water.
Nutrient pollution : Excess nitrogen or phosphorus entering ecosystems from sources such as fertilizers, sewage, and runoff. Human-added nutrients can accelerate bloom growth in lakes and coastal waters.
Lake Erie algal blooms : Recurring cyanobacterial blooms in Lake Erie, especially its western basin. These blooms show how nutrient runoff affects a heavily used freshwater lake.
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