Question

fertilizers contribute to HABs. what else can contribute to HABs?

Answer 1

Answer:

Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) are a major environmental issue and fertilizers containing nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus contribute to high algal growth. Eutrophication (excessive richness of nutrients) of water bodies caused due to washing off of fertilizers from the land into the rivers and lakes cause great increase in phytoplankton population and algal bloom.

Other factors that can contribute to algal bloom are:

• Systematic increase in sea water temperature, and heavy rainfall.
• Environmental conditions that promote algal bloom are high temperature, high pH levels, increased CO₂ levels and stagnant water.
• Iron rich dust influx from desert areas may also contribute to algal bloom. Chemical discharge and waste is also associated with algal bloom.
• Effect of climatic oscillations such as El Niño events