Green Lakes and Greenhouse Gases: What to Know

Reader Contribution by Kayla Matthews
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Lakes around the world are turning green. While going green is usually a good thing for the environment, in this case, it’s not. Lakes “turning green” due to algae blooms are causing a range of environmental problems, including increased greenhouse gas emissions.

What Causes Green Lakes?

An algal bloom is a rapid increase in the amount of algae in a body of water. Excess nutrients, such as phosphorous and nitrogen, in the water are often the cause of algal blooms. These blooms tend to turn water green but may also turn them red or yellowish-brown. If a bright green bloom occurs, it’s likely because of blue-green algae, which is actually a type of bacteria.

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