Eutrophication

Eutrophication Eutrophication is the process by which a body of water becomes enriched in dissolved nutrients (as phosphates), stimulating the growth of aquatic plant life usually resulting in the depletion of dissolved oxygen. From: Developments in Surface Contamination and Cleaning, 2015 Related terms: • Biomass • Acidification • Nitrite N.A. Serediak, ... G.J. Putz, in Treatise on Geochemistry (Second Edition), 2014 Abstract Eutrophication is defined as an increase in nutrient input to surface waters to the extent of overenrichment, with a corresponding increase in primary productivity and related negative effects. Eutrophication is widely recognized as a serious, primarily human-caused (anthropogenic) environmental issue. The process of nutrient transport is explored starting with water as both a molecule and substance, and its passage over and through the landscape to aquatic systems. Two primary nutrient cycles, phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N), are discussed with focus on anthropogenic perturbations and their cumulative effects. Consideration is given to states of ecological succession, natural and cultural eutrophication, fire, drought, and instances where increased nutrient loading does not result in eutrophication. Nutrient concentrations and ratios (N:P) are reviewed for their effects on phytoplankton growth and potential for cyanobacteria, capable of toxin production, to dominate phytoplankton communities. Two case studies are presented to contrast the impacts o...

\( \newcommand\) • • • • • • • • Eutrophication occurs when excess nutrients are introduced into a body of water. This process increases the rate of supply of organic matter in an ecosystem and stimulates aquatic plant growth. At normal levels, these nutrients feed the growth of organisms called cyanobacteria or algae. But with too many nutrients, cyanobacteria grow out of control. Excess algae block the sunlight needed by bottom-dwelling plants and lead to a decrease in oxygen in the water and consequently leads to negative outcomes. Eutrophication occurs naturally but anthropogenic activities such as industrial effluent and runoff of fertilizers rich in nitrogen and phosphorus contribute heavily to eutrophication events. When supplied with an excess of nutrients, the algae can grow out of control. This event is known as an “algal bloom,” and disrupts the balance of the ecosystem. As described above, the increased growth blocks the availability of sunlight to benthic organisms and other plants and organisms in the photic zone. The overgrowth of algae eventually begins to die off and is broken down by microbes that consume oxygen during the decomposition process. This creates a hypoxic environment and decreases oxygen availability in the water to other organisms. This video by NOAA explains Eutrophication https://aamboceanservice.blob.core.windows.net/oceanservice-prod/facts/eutrophication.mp4 Some of the negative effects of this excessive algae production, or algal blooms...

Eutrophication Has Greek Roots Eutrophication, which comes from the Greek eutrophos, "well-nourished", has become a major environmental problem. Nitrates and phosphates, especially from lawn fertilizers, run off the land into rivers and lakes, promoting the growth of algae and other plant life, which take oxygen from the water, causing the death of fish and mollusks. Cow manure, agricultural fertilizer, detergents, and human waste are often to blame as well. In the 1960s and '70s, the eutrophication of Lake Erie advanced so extremely that it became known as the "dead lake". And many areas of the oceans worldwide—some more than 20,000 square miles in extent—have become "dead zones", where almost no life of any kind exists. Recent Examples on the Web Rice has the lowest impact on land use, almond has the lowest impact on greenhouse emissions, and soy has the lowest impact on freshwater use and eutrophication, which is contamination of a body of water with nutrients that cause excessive plant and algae growth. — Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 15 Nov. 2022 What is eutrophication? — Amin Mirkouei, Forbes, 28 June 2021 Climate change and eutrophication surely have something to do with it. — Rodrigo Pérez Ortega, Discover Magazine, 11 Sep. 2019 This can lead to excessive waste concentrations that trigger environmental effects, Vinnerås said—things like dead zones in the oceans and eutrophication of lakes. — Keely Larson, Ars Technica, 20 Aug. 2022 Low levels of oxygen (hypoxia) or no oxyge...

• Article • • 26 March 2019 Eutrophication will increase methane emissions from lakes and impoundments during the 21st century • ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-5750-0354 • ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-1976-9181 • ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-8547-0789 Nature Communications volume 10, Article number: 1375 ( 2019) Lakes and impoundments are an important source of methane (CH 4), a potent greenhouse gas, to the atmosphere. A recent analysis shows aquatic productivity (i.e., eutrophication) is an important driver of CH 4 emissions from lentic waters. Considering that aquatic productivity will increase over the next century due to climate change and a growing human population, a concomitant increase in aquatic CH 4 emissions may occur. We simulate the eutrophication of lentic waters under scenarios of future nutrient loading to inland waters and show that enhanced eutrophication of lakes and impoundments will substantially increase CH 4 emissions from these systems (+30–90%) over the next century. This increased CH 4 emission has an atmospheric impact of 1.7–2.6 Pg C-CO 2-eq y −1, which is equivalent to 18–33% of annual CO 2 emissions from burning fossil fuels. Thus, it is not only important to limit eutrophication to preserve fragile water supplies, but also to avoid acceleration of climate change. The importance of lakes and rivers in the global carbon cycle is well established 4) and carbon dioxide (CO 2), are reported regularly 2O), another potent GHG produced in aquatic systems, a...

Filter Your Site Experience by Topic Applying the filters below will filter all articles, data, insights and projects by the topic area you select. • Remove filter • filter site by Climate • filter site by Cities • filter site by Energy • filter site by Food • filter site by Forests • filter site by Water • filter site by Ocean • filter site by Business • filter site by Economics • filter site by Finance • filter site by Equity About Eutrophication Within the past 50 years, eutrophication — the over-enrichment of water by nutrients such as nitrogen phosphorus — has emerged as one of the leading causes of water quality impairment. The two most acute symptoms of eutrophication are hypoxia (or oxygen depletion) and harmful algal blooms, which among other things can destroy aquatic life in affected areas. Fig 2. This divided body of water shows the remarkable difference between mesotrophic (moderately enriched) (upper basin) and eutrophic water (lower basin). Image Credit: The rise in eutrophic and hypoxic events has been attributed to the rapid increase in intensive agricultural practices, industrial activities, and population growth which together have increased nitrogen and phosphorus flows in the environment. The Millenium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) found that human activities have resulted in the near doubling of nitrogen and tripling of phosphorus flows to the environment when compared to natural values. Before nutrients—nitrogen in particular—are delivered to coastal eco...

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