Green Lakes and Greenhouse Gases: What to Know

Reader Contribution by Kayla Matthews
Published on April 19, 2019
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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.

Human activities are often the reason excess nutrients enter the water. Agriculture is a leading source of these nutrients, as fertilizers applied to crops and animal manure can introduce excess nutrients into waterways. Fertilizers applied to lawns and gardens also contribute, and stormwater and wastewater may carry excess nutrients into the water. When a body of water is overloaded with nutrients, the phenomenon is called “eutrophication.”

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