YORKTOWN, Va. (AP) — Researchers in Virginia are keeping an eye on red algae blooms in the Chesapeake Bay.
The blooms suck oxygen from the water. That makes it difficult for marine life to survive. They are driven by warm water and excessive nutrients, and typically occur in the lower Chesapeake Bay in July or August.
Kim Reece with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science tells WAVY-TV that this summer’s blooms are the worst in years.
Reece says researchers at the institute are monitoring the blooms and watching for other types of algae that could harm humans.
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