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by Jane Beitler
November 11, 2008

Travelers from around the world pause at China's Lake Taihu. Tranquility normally prevails along the sculpted limestone cliffs and undulating green hills ringing its placid waters west of Shanghai. But in spring 2007, this picture of Chinese beauty grew ugly when a massive blue-green algal outbreak thickly slimed the lake's surface.

Chinese officials declared the outbreak a major health emergency. The algae, called cyanobacteria, threw off foul odors as well as toxins that can damage human health. Two million nearby residents who drink Lake Taihu's water scrambled to buy bottled water for several weeks. Agricultural runoff and wastewater discharge had overloaded the lake waters with nitrogen; in spring, algae grew explosively in the warm, fertile waters. The most severe of several recent outbreaks, the incident spotlighted the need to better manage Lake Taihu's water quality.

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Author: Laura Naranjo
NASA Official: Jeanne Behnke
Last Updated: 13 April 2009
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