The effects of global warming on algae blooms/red tide Shelby Li Roger Sarkis Estuarial Blooms -Slide 1 contains satellite images of estuarial blooms occurring in the pacific northwest. 1). Top: an estuarial bloom in a region north of Vancouver, British Columbia 2). Bottom: and estuarial bloom flowing west of Vancouver, British Columbia -An algae bloom is defined as the rapid expansion of algae in a marine or freshwater aquatic environment. -They are particularly prevalent in brackish zones (areas where fresh water and salt water coalesce). -Blooms are usually characterized by discoloration in the water (brown, red, varying shades of green). -Blooms are dangerous in that they completely remove oxygen from the water column (stagnation) and some algal species produce phyto-toxins (neurotoxins). Google maps, public satellite images, 2009. Marine Blooms -Slide 4 contains satellite images depicting marine <a href="/keyword/algal-blooms/" >algal blooms</a> a). Top: a large algal bloom occurring in the San Francisco bay b). Bottom: a algal swirl off the coast of northern Washington state (Bellingham) -Like many other byproducts of global warming, extensive research and data is limited (Van Dolah 139). -Increasing temperatures at higher latitudes, however, is causing <a href="/keyword/algal-blooms/" >algal blooms</a> to become more recurrent (Science Daily) a). These blooms are becoming particularly strong in regions they normally would not be able to subsist at. b). Warmer temperatures are also causing the normal growing season to become several protracted. 1). This extended growing season is allowing algal columns to flourish and sometimes grow 3 feet deep (Science Daily). -These blooms serve as effective carbon reservoirs which seemingly help retard the global warming process caused by carbon emissions. a). Researchers aboard the Royal Navy's HMS Endurance have found that melting icebergs off the coast of Antarctica are releasing tiny particles of iron into the southern ocean that are precipitating large algae blooms (Williams). 1). The blooms absorb carbon particles from the atmosphere and then sink to the bottom apparently removing carbon for up to 100 years (Williams). Google Maps, public satellite images, 2009. &quot;Harmful Algae Takes Advantage Of Global Warming: More Algae Blooms Expected.&quot; ScienceDaily 7 April 2008. 21 February 2009 &lt;http://www.sciencedaily.com- /releases/2008/04/080403140928.htm&gt;. Van Dolah, Francis M. &quot;Marine Algal Toxins: Origins, Health Effects, and Their Increased Occurrence.&quot; Environmental Health Perspectives 108.1 (2000): 133-141. Williams, Andrew. &quot;Green Algae Bloom Process Could Stop Global Warming.&quot; Clean Technica 4 Jan. 2009 &lt;http://cleantechnica.com/2009/01/04/green-algae-bloom-process-could-stop-global-warming/&gt;. Red Tide Images by Mary Jo Adams and Miriam Godfrey Red Tide (notes) Harmful <a href="/keyword/algal-blooms/" >algal blooms</a> (HABs) that result from the buildup of one species of plankton are commonly referred to as red tides. Discoloration of the water differs. It depends on the pigmentation of the organism overwhelming the area. Some red tides don't change the color of the water but still generate the same effects that a red tide would. Countries affected by red tide events include the following: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, England, France, Guatemala, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Romania, Russia, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the United States, and Venezuela. Sources Cited: Adams, Mary Jo. http://serc.carleton.edu/details/images/5509.html. Godfrey, Miriam. http://serc.carleton.edu/images/microbelife/topics/red_tide_genera.v3.jpg Bruckner, Monica. Science Education Resource Center. 28 July 2008. Carleton College. 22 February 2009 &lt; http://serc.carleton.edu/microbelife/topics/redtide/index.html&gt;. Mudie, Peta J., Andr Rochon and Elisabeth Levac. &quot;Palynological records of red tide-producing species in Canada: past trends and implications for the future.&quot; Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 180 (1) (2002), pp. 159 186 Effects of HABs Environment Remove dissolved oxygen from the ocean Are unattractive and odorous May disrupt food webs by harming organisms in the food web ...