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Eutrophication facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Eutrophication is what a water-based ecosystem does when too many nutrients are added to it. Eutrophication is mainly caused by two nutrients, phosphorus and nitrogen. These are normally brought to aquatic ecosystems as runoff from fertilized agricultural areas, erosion from river banks, river beds, clearing of land (deforestation), or sewage that ends up in aquatic environments. The major consequence of eutrophication are algal blooms.

Images for kids

  • Orange like Autumn

    Eutrophication in a canal

  • Application of a phosphorus sorbent to a lake - The Netherlands

    Application of a phosphorus sorbent to a lake - The Netherlands

  • Caspian Sea from orbit

    Eutrophication is apparent as increased turbidity in the northern part of the Caspian Sea, imaged from orbit.

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