The 2017 Algae Almanac

Devastating algal blooms are becoming more common—and more toxic—and agriculture and climate change are prime culprits.

April 27, 2017

This spring, at the same time as hundreds of thousands of concerned citizens across the U.S. and around the world prepare to march to demand climate action, one of global warming’s already widespread, devastating effects—and causes—is rearing its head again.

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Toxic algae season is upon us like an endangered rusty patch bumblebee on a tomato blossom. This week hundreds of sea birds washed up on the Southern California coast, dying from algae poisoning, and environmental advocates filed suit against the EPA over algae outbreaks that have turned Lake Erie a sick green again and contaminated local drinking water.

Algal blooms may still be somewhat unpredictable, but their causes are hardly a mystery. Nitrogen and phosphorus runoff from industrial farms fuel algae’s growth, and greenhouse gases—including those released from the soils of intensively farmed agriculture operations—speed the global warming that is driving up the oceans’ temperatures, creating a toxic trifecta that primes the waters for algae to take over.

More pollution and warmer waters have created ideal growing conditions for certain aquatic plants—some of which can prove deadly. Here’s our slime forecast for the season.

Top photo, of the 2009 Lake Erie algal bloom, CC-licensed by NOAA.

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Like the story?
Join the conversation.

Terry
May 19, 2017
Bravo! Thank you for this clear, concise Truth-telling!
Jessica Freeze
September 26, 2018
Could you please provide your source for the 166,800 tons of fertilizer runoff into the gulf?

Thank You!

Agroecology

Volunteers Noelle Romero (left) and Corinne Smith (right) pull weeds around a row of baby tomato plants and talk about their own gardening ventures during a community work day at the Agroecology Commons farm. (Photo credit: Riley Ramirez)

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A Key Agriculture Census Doesn’t Reflect Reality, Researcher Warns

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In a recent paper, University of Iowa professor Silvia Secchi finds that the current Census of Agriculture is neither complete nor accurate, and could skew federal research and investment.

The 2017 Algae Almanac