GAC008 Assessment Event 4: Academic Essay
Definition of Eutrophication
Student’s Name:
Minsung Kim
Student ID #:
HUK 21843
Teacher:
Jooyong Choi
Due Date:
19 July 2012
Word Count:
907
GAC008 AE#4
Minsung Kim
HUK 21843
Topic: what is meant by Eutrophication? Explain with reference to the severity of the
problem in your own country.
According to the Oxford English Dictionaries, the meaning of eutrophication is “over nutrients in a
lake or any body of water” (Oxford). In other words, there is too much organic matter that is harmful
to the water. However, Cloern mentions that one of the reasons for eutrophication is global warming,
which means the earth’s temperature is getting higher than usual. He also mentions
that
eutrophication is hard to define definition as it has changed a lot from the past to the present.
Moreover, it is due to human behavior such as improper disposing of human excrements in lakes,
rivers, ponds or seas. Eutrophication usually happens where people are crowded. In order to define
the eutrophication phenomenon, its causes, effects and outcomes, especially in South of Korea is
needed. Furthermore, the cause, effect and outcomes related to define the meaning.
Firstly, ideas of eutrophication can be largely divided into two types: green tide and red bloom. To
define the green tide, it appears in ponds, lakes or rivers and not in the sea with green bloom. The
green bloom is usually called as green tide. The reason of being bloomed is plenty of nutrients that are
sewage and block sunlight. The sewage provides Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorus (P) molecules, which
are produced while sewage is dissolving in the body of water. In addition, blocked sunlight is another
cause of eutrophication. The reason is that when the sunlight is blocked, water cannot have enough
access to oxygen. Actually, it occurs when water interacts with sunlight and water because molecules
in the water have hydrogen and oxygen. The reason is that sunlight divides the molecules into two:
hydrogen and oxygen. This oxygen is given to the organic creatures and plants for their living.
Secondly, red tide appears around coastline but there is a huge different between green and red tide,
which is green tide provided by sewages and wastewater. However, the red tide is provided by
plankton which dissolves in the body of sea water. Emphasizing this idea, the water cannot recycle
properly because of sewage in seabed and dead fish bodies makes eutrophication worse. Moreover, as
time goes by, the temperature of seawater increases by global warming, and the movements of
organic matters are produced faster than usual and it leads to accelerated eutrophication.
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The cause of eutrophication can be divided into various reasons, but the main cause is global
warming, which concerns the entire world. If the temperature rises, the nutrients in a body of seawater
will increase at the same time. As soon as this occurs, oxygen in the sea water disappears because of
the over nutrients. Moreover, the increasing organic matter cause marine animals to die and it
becomes a part of the soil. Furthermore, the organic matter mixes with other soils, which is in the
deep seabed. As time goes by, the eutrophication becomes worse.
Moreover, there are various negative impacts that can be largely classified into three: human health,
aesthetic, and economic impacts. Cyan toxins cause human death, and diseases such as skin problems
and cancer. Secondly, according to research on eutrophication, aesthetics “ unsightly scums”(Mbzia).
Lastly, the economy can be impacted directly or indirectly. To be more specific, there are three
economic impacts of recycling water, running out stocks, and disinfection cost. These are giving
direct impacts to the economic condition, however, to prevent not have bad economic impacts, saving
resources are required.
Eutrophication is a big issue in the Republic of Korea, especially in Gunsan, According to Gunsan
researchers, the Gunsan coastline is the most polluted place in Korea because of eutrophication (Kim
Jong-Gu and Tea-Ju Jeong 957). The eutrophication was accelerated by human behavior by exposing
sewages and wastewater, released by residential and industrial areas. Furthermore, they are trying to
find the way to make good water quality. According to Gunsan, they research water in lakes after that
they defined as“ the average concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen and dissolved inorganic
phosphorus at surface waters were exceeding second grade of water quality criteria respectively”
(Journal of Environment Science 957). Which means that Gunsan found their lakes getting water
bloomed. To not be water bloomed beta base have to be demanded to recover the water blooms. To
compare with Gunsan, Chung one has similarities with Gunsan, which is caused by sewage and
wastewater. According to Seo Jung-Kwan, plants that grow from sewag and wastewater can grow 1.8
times higher then other natural plants in lakes or rivers. Moreover, the second difference between
Chang one and Gunsan is Accelerated Graph Port (AGP ). Chung one has slightly above point
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HUK 21843
compared to Gunsan and the Byungsung Stream area which means that Chung one is more polluted
than other regions.
In sum, eutrophication happens all over the world and it is one of the most concerning problems. In
order to prevent the green and red bloom, the South Korean government and society need to care and
think about environment by saving and reusing energy and participating many institutions and
activities, which is related to environmental movement organizations. For examples: maintain lakes or
rivers nearby people and supporting development and concentrating in region`s recovery systems by
supported from the government in South of Korea. As supporting by society organization, the
eutrophication might be helpful to be recovered.
References
Andersen, Jesper H. et al. “Horizons.” Journal of Plankton Research. 28.7 (2006): 621-628. 6 July
2012.
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“About Eutrophication.” World Resources Institution.n.d. Web. 19 July 2012.
Cloern, James E. “Eutrophication.” The Encyclopedia of Earth. The Encyclopedia of Earth, 18 Dec.
2007. 6 July 2012.
“Eutrophication degrades water quality.” IAGLR. IAGLR, 6 Apr. 2011. Web. 6 July 2012.
Gilluly, Richard H. “Eutrophication Speeded by Man.” Science News. 98.1 (1970): 17-19. Jstor.
Web. 19 July 2012.
Hasset, R. Patrick. “Effect of red tide.” Journal of Plankton Research. 25.2 (2003): 185-192.
Oxford. Web. 14 July 2012.
Oxford. “ Eutrophication.” Oxford Dictionaries. 2012. Web. 11 July 2012.
“ Red tide is harmful bloom.” NOAA. NOAA, 11 July 2012. Web. 14 July 2012.
Seo Jung-Kwan. et.al “Effect of the Sewage and Wastewater Plant Effluent on the Algal Growth
Potential in the Nakdong River Basin.” An International Journal of Algal Research. 18.2
(2003):157-167. ALGAE. Web. 19 July 2012.
Kim Jong-Gu and Tea-Ju Jeong. “A study on Eutrophication control.” Journal of Environment
Science. 12.9 (2003): 957-966. Journal of Environment Science. Web. 6 July 2012.
Msbiza, Noloyiso. “Eutrophication.” National Eutrophication Monitoring Programme Design. n.d.
Web. 19 July 2012.
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