Researchers have identified the process behind the formation of algal blooms.
The new findings could offer hope to teams seeking ways to address toxic algal blooms.
Interestingly, the team found that these blooms develop from a bottom-up sequence driven by sediment plumes generated by rainfall. The team used an autonomous underwater drone equipped with high-precision sensors. Over four months, the vehicle collected more than 2.8 million data points, assembling a high-resolution three-dimensional portrait of the water column.
The findings include identifying the life cycle of an algae bloom in three distinct phases:
- The Awakening: Heavy rainfall agitates the water, churning the sediment and lifting dormant algal cells and stored nutrients back into the water column
- The Stealthy Ascent: Instead of dispersing, the cells coalesce into coherent plumes: dense vertical columns of biomass that steadily move upward toward the light.
- The Outbreak: After about one to two days, these plumes reach the surface, spread outward, and develop into visible blooms that can be seen with the naked eye.
Discussing the study findings, Dr. Troy Yu Tao, associate professor at Harbin Institute of Technology, stated:
“This study fundamentally changes how we understand algal bloom initiation.”
You can find the original research here.
