Huge Algal Blooms in Florida Visible from Space

Credit: NASA Earth Observatory images by Joshua Stevens, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey

The toxic algal blooms in Florida have increased and is causing such a thick layer of green sludge that they can be seen from space. In this picture taken from space Lake Okeechobee is shown with large green algal blooms. The major factors that increase algal blooms is warm and calm water which is why Lake Okeechobee is so heavily impacted. 

As the lake fills with excess rain water and the water levels becomes to high the lake is drained using canals that lead to the east and west coast of Florida. This leads to the dispersal of algal blooms into the salt water estuaries. The image above shows that the St. Lucie Canal and the Caloosahatchee River lead to the coast providing a pathway for algal blooms to enter the ocean. The solution to this problem includes buying land south of the lake to create a overflow reservoir for the water rather than having it drain to the coasts.

The algal blooms can cause serious problems for various marine wildlife due to eutrophication and a decrease in available oxygen for other species as well as poor water quality. Right now these algal blooms are peaking and can become very toxic. These algal blooms are also know as red tides as well as HAB's (harmful algal blooms). The HAB's cause a chain reaction in the food chain and result in the fish population dying off and the bird population being effected by the decreases in fish. The increases in red tides can be managed through careful engineering of water flow from Lake Okeechobee and focusing on nutrient run off into the lake.

Other Links

Slimy Green Beaches May Be Florida's New Normal

What Causes a Red Tide?

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