Lake Erie Algal Bloom, October 26, 2017

The attached image was taken on September 26, 2017 in Toldeo, OH on the coast of Lake Erie. The image shows an algae bloom that began in mid July and reached all the way to Canada. Satellite imagery is used to monitor the bloom, in addition to tests of the concentration in the water itself. Recently, the end of the harmful algal bloom (HAB) season was officially declared, after 9 consecutive days of water tests came back negative. This monitoring is important because bodies of water are used for recreation and there are health concerns associated with HABs. For example, a chunk of one river in Toldeo was under "recreational advisory" due to an HAB.

http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2017/10/23/Toledo-s-harmful-algal-bloom-season-comes-to-end.html