Global mapping reveals increase in lacustrine algal blooms over the past decade

Algal blooms constitute an emerging threat to global inland water quality, yet their spatial and temporal distribution at the global scale remains largely unknown. Here we establish a global bloom database, using 2.91 million Landsat satellite images from 1982 to 2019 to characterize algal blooms in 248,243 freshwater lakes, representing 57.1% of the global lake area. We show that 21,878 lakes (8.8%) spread across six continents have experienced algal blooms. The median bloom occurrence of affected lakes was 4.6%, but this frequency is increasing; we found increased bloom risks in the 2010s, globally (except for Oceania). The most pronounced increases were found in Asia and Africa, mostly in developing countries that remain reliant on agricultural fertilizer. As algal blooms continue to expand in scale and magnitude, this baseline census will be vital towards future risk assessments and mitigation efforts.

Feng, LianSouthern University of Science and Technology (författare)
Dai, YanhuiSouthern University of Science and Technology (författare)
Hu, ChuanminUniversity of South Florida (författare)
Gibson, LukeSouthern University of Science and Technology (författare)
Tang, JingLund University,Lunds universitet,MERGE: ModElling the Regional and Global Earth system,Centrum för miljö- och klimatvetenskap (CEC),Naturvetenskapliga fakulteten,Institutionen för naturgeografi och ekosystemvetenskap,Centre for Environmental and Climate Science (CEC),Faculty of Science,Dept of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science,University of Copenhagen(Swepub:lu)ji3251ta (författare)
Lee, ZhongpingUniversity of Massachusetts (författare)
Wang, YingSouthern University of Science and Technology (författare)
Cai, XiaobinChinese Academy of Sciences (författare)
Liu, JunguoSouthern University of Science and Technology (författare)
Zheng, YiSouthern University of Science and Technology (författare)
Zheng, ChunmiaoSouthern University of Science and Technology (författare)
Southern University of Science and TechnologyUniversity of South Florida (creator_code:org_t)

Ingår i:Nature Geoscience: Springer Science and Business Media LLC15:2, s. 130-1341752-08941752-0908

Av författaren/redakt...: Hou, Xuejiao; Feng, Lian; Dai, Yanhui; Hu, Chuanmin; Gibson, Luke; Tang, Jing; visa fler...; Lee, Zhongping; Wang, Ying; Cai, Xiaobin; Liu, Junguo; Zheng, Yi; Zheng, Chunmiao; visa färre...

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