Can you recognize a blue-green algae bloom in your local lake?
Can you recognize a blue-green algae bloom in your local lake?
Which of these pictures features blue-green algae?
Answer : All of them!
Blooms typically form after long periods of hot, dry weather followed by heavy rain — conditions that are becoming more common with climate change. Excess nutrients also promote rapid algae growth. When these factors coincide, blue‑green algae can multiply quickly and create large, visible blooms. Waterbodies that have experienced a bloom once are more likely to see them again.
Identifying blooms can be difficult because their appearance varies. Harmful and harmless blooms often look alike, and colours can include blue‑green, turquoise, green, brown, red or white. Blue-green algae may be suspended in the water or form thin surface layers, known as blooms. Blooms may resemble spilled paint, pea soup or small floating clumps. Some form thicker surface scums. Their odour ranges from earthy or grassy when healthy to ammonia‑like when decaying.
Images & info sourced from:
https://novascotia.ca/blue-green-algae/ https://www.ducks.ca/blue-green-algae/
Where are the blooms?
Blue‑green algae blooms tend to form in slow‑moving or stagnant water. When the water is still, the algae stay near the surface longer, allowing them to take in more sunlight, nutrients, and carbon dioxide. This increases how fast the blooms grow.
Wind can also affect where the blooms end up. Light winds push floating algae across the surface, spreading them out or pushing them toward shorelines, bays, and shallow areas. This can greatly increase the chances that people or animals will come into contact with potentially harmful toxins.
Because wind and weather can move blooms so quickly, occasional water samples might not show the full risk. A more reliable approach is to monitor temperature layers in the water, especially during warm, sunny, calm weather when the water is most likely to form layers. This helps confirm whether mixing systems are working properly to prevent or break up bloom‑friendly conditions (Chorus, 2021)
Always in Motion
Always in Motion
Always in Motion
Always in Motion