Ep. 4: What Causes Harmful Algal Blooms?
- Aug 5
- 1 min read
Audio-only episode
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Episode Description:
Why do Harmful Algal Blooms seem to be getting worse?
In 2014, a harmful algae bloom shut off drinking water for nearly half a million people in Toledo, Ohio. The city spent 65 million dollars responding. They've invested half a billion dollars in upgrades since. And every summer, the blooms come back.
Harmful algal blooms are getting worse. And the reason why is more complicated than most people realize, and more alarming than most officials or lake managers are admitting.
In this episode, environmental scientist and host Ally breaks down the full science of toxic algae blooms to help you think like a scientist, including:
The ancient biology behind algae,
How phosphorus fuels algae growth,
How lake stratification and turnover distribute nutrients through the water column, and
Why new peer reviewed research suggests that even lakes with reduced pollution are still experiencing blooms.
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