Huge Algal Bloom Engulfs Coast of China, Burying Beaches

An algal bloom usually doesn't affect humans. Instead, it remains off the coast, producing massive amounts of photosynthetic material. Yet in this case, China beach goers are suffering the effects of algae. A huge algal bloom twice the area of Los Angeles County has engulfed the coast and has buried beaches knee-high in the bright green material.

The algal bloom is now the largest to have ever occurred in the region, according to The Guardian. Based in the Yellow Sea near the city of Qingdao, the bloom has covered the nearby beaches with a veritable shag carpet of algae. So far, officials have had to use bulldozers to remove 7,335 tons of the material. While much of the material has been removed, though, it's likely that still more will was up on China's shores.

The algal bloom is an annual occurrence for the region. In fact, these "green tides" have been increasing each year. Currently, the annual bloom is estimated to be the largest in the world, growing to an estimated million tons of biomass each year, according to the New York Times.

So what exactly causes these blooms? Scientists aren't sure, but they suspect it could be connected to an increase of nutrients being dumped into the water in the form of pollution and fertilizer from seaweed farming. The same phenomenon can be seen in the Gulf of Mexico, especially during years with high amounts of rainfall. Excess nutrients are swept into rivers which eventually make it into the Gulf, giving the algae the "food" they need to thrive. In fact, this year is estimated to have an especially large algal bloom.

"Algal blooms often follow a massive discharge of phosphates or nitrates into the water," said Brendar Parker of the University of Cambridge, an EnAlgae Project researcher, in an interview with The Guardian. "Whether it's farming, untreated sewage or some kind of industrial plant that's discharging waste into the water."

Currently, officials are still attempting to clean up the algal bloom that has swamped the coast. Chinese citizens, in contrast, are discussing how to put the algae to good use in various recipes, according to the LA Times. That's probably a good idea considering that these blooms are likely only to continue in the future.

Want to see a video of the masses of algae? You can check it out here.