Name: How to Prevent Water Pollution
Uploaded: 2019-07-19
Duration: 4 min 30 s
Description: Water is the most valuable resource on this planet, and we will cease to exist without it. Learn the causes of water pollution and how to reduce and prevent...

Question

Write a short note on algal bloom.

Accepted Answer

Algal bloom is the rapid growth of algae in water bodies. It is caused by the presence of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, often brought in by the rainwater from agricultural land.

In case of an algal bloom however the thick layer of algae covers the entire water surface which has the following consequences.:

No sunlight enters the water body. Aquatic plants die because they can no longer make their food by photosynthesis.

The death of aquatic plants leads to reduced production of oxygen in water. As the algae cover the upper surface of the water body, so it cannot absorb oxygen from air. Hence, the concentration of dissolved oxygen declines in water.

Dead algae are decayed at the bottom. The decay consumes oxygen causing further oxygen depletion.

Because of the lack of dissolved oxygen, most of the aquatic organisms such as fish die. Excessive plant growth followed by depletion of oxygen is called eutrophication. It can cause the death of small water bodies.

Write a short note on algal bloom.

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