An Initiative Study on Relationship between Algal Blooms and Asian Dust for Regulation of Algal Blooms

Abstract

Although the problems of the algal blooms have been world-widely observed in freshwater, estuary, and marine throughout the year, it is not yet certain what are the basic causes of such blooms. Consequently, it is very difficult to predict when and where algal blooms occur. The constituents of the Asian dust are in a good agreement with the elements required for the algal growth, which suggests some possible relationship between the algal blooms and the Asian dust. There have been frequently algal blooms in drinking water from rivers or lakes. However, there is no any algal blooms in upwelling waters where the Asian dust cannot penetrate into the soil due to its relatively weak settling velocity (size of particles, 4.5±1.5 µm), which implies the possible close relationship of the Asian dust with algal blooms. The present initiative study is thus intended firstly in Korea to illustrate such a relationship by reviewing typical previous studies along with 12 years of weekly iron profiles (2001~2012) and two slant culture experiments with the dissolved Asian dust. The result showed bacterial suspected colonies in the slant culture experiment that are qualitatively in a good agreement with the recent Japanese studies. Since the diatoms require cheap energy (8%) compared to other phytoplankton (100%) to synthesize their cell walls by silicate, the present results can be used to predict algal blooms by diatoms if the concentrations of iron and silicate are available during spring and fall. It can be postulated that the algal blooms occur only if the environmental factors such as light, nutrients, calm water surface layer, temperature, and pH are (4): 285-296 (2014) simultaneously satisfied with the requirements of the micronutrients of mineral ions supplied by the Asian dust as enzymatic cofactors for the rapid bio-synthesis of the macromolecules during algal blooms. Simple eco-friendly methods to regulate the algal blooms are suggested for the initial stage of blooming with limited area: 1) to cover up the water surface with black curtain and inhibit photosynthesis during the day time, 2) to blow air (20.9%) or pure oxygen into the bottom of the water and inhibit rubisco for carbon uptake and nitrate reductase for nitrogen uptake activities in algal growth during the night, 3) to eliminate the resting spores or cysts by suction of bottom sediments as deep as 5 cm to prevent the next year germinations.

Prevention of Harmful Algal Blooms by Control of Growth Parameters

“…It was known that the required time for the algal reproduction was 6 hours for diatom under no turbulence. Since the bacterial conversion of Fe 3+ to Fe 2+ took 15 hours [16] and the photosynthesis was maximized during the 6 hours from dawn (6 AM) to midday (12 PM) [4], the resultant summation (6 + 15 + 6) hours were 27 hours for HAB by diatom, which was in accordance with other studies [24] indicating HAB by diatoms after strong winds of a day or two in the sunlit surface waters.…”

“…Water quality parameters and meteorological conditions influencing HAB, have been extensively studied by many investigators [4] [33] [53]. Growth factors for HAB are summarized in Table 4 while important parameters were stepwise discussed as below.…”

Transmission and Prevention of Wuhan Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) under Minimum Sunspot Number

“…It is recommended to use the air cleaner, humidifier and heater for indoor air quality without the viral infection. High relative humidity (>40%) leaded to loss of infections influenza virus from simulated coughs (NOTI et al, 2013 (11)(12) and high temperature (200℃) during the chemical reaction with water) in the inhaled air is dissolved in the stomach for steriliza If drinking water frequently, the coronavirus -tion by stomach acid, instead of pathway to the lung alveoil leading to calcification and ultimely pneumonia.…”

Harmful Algal Blooms Associated with Volcanic Eruptions in Indonesia and Philippines for Korean Fishery Damage

“…kills fish remains unclear, but suffocation due to gill tissue damage was the ultimate cause of fish death [3]. Kim [4] proposed that HAB occur only if the environmental factors such as light, nutrients, calm water surface layer, temperature, and pH could all simultaneously match with the requirements of the mineral ions supplied by the Asian dust as enzymatic cofactors for the rapid bio-synthesis of the macromolecules during HAB within a limited area. Kim [5] also showed the prevention of HAB by control of growth parameters including the iron (Fe) in global aeolian dust and water as the key initiator for HAB while sulfur compounds (S) (S, SO 2 , SO 3 , H 2 S, H 2 SO 4 , sulfates) from SO 2 plumes during volcanic eruptions and volcanic ashes deplete Fe in the forms of iron sulfides (FeS/FeS 2 ).…”