Water Pollution _ Approaching – 02

It looks like a beautiful day! There are a few clouds in the sky, but it does not look like rain. It is a perfect day for going to the beach. When you get out of the car at the beach, you are ready to sprint for the water. Suddenly, you notice something is not right. The parking lot is empty! It’s a beautiful Saturday morning at the beach in July; where could everyone be? Something is definitely wrong.

The State Fish and Wildlife Management truck appears and the ranger steps out of the vehicle. “Sorry folks,” he says, “the beach is closed due to a red tide. The good news is the beaches farther up the coast are open today.” Now the breeze blowing in off the water, you realize why the beach is closed. The smell of dead fish is almost overwhelming. “Whoa!” you shout as you squeeze your nose. “Exactly,” said the ranger, “Red tides use up all the oxygen in the water causing fish and other marine creatures to die.“

You remember reading about red tides in your Environmental Science class. They get that name because they sometimes discolor the water. During a red tide episode, the water appears a reddish brown. You recall reading that red tides are caused by algae (or algal) blooms. An algal bloom is a rapid increase in the amount of algae in a given area. These algal blooms are naturally occurring events. They can be traced back hundreds of years. The problem is that scientists now think the duration and intensity of algal blooms are increasing. This increase is due to pollution caused by humans.