Bay Curious cover image

Bay Curious

Is the Water in the Bay Getting Greener?

Jun 6, 2024
Explore the changing color of the water in San Francisco Bay, with insights from a biologist on factors like light interaction and particles. Learn about the challenges in detecting long-term trends and the natural cycle of water turning green due to photoplankton populations. Join in on a trivia game and find out about a live jazz event at KQED headquarters.
17:15

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Water in the bay appears greener due to increased phytoplankton abundance from shifting ecological dynamics.
  • Changes in clam populations have triggered a trophic cascade, impacting phytoplankton growth and bay water color.

Deep dives

The Color of the Bay: Green Waters and Anthropogenic Influences

The bay's water color has shifted over time from blue to green as observed by residents like Justin Hartung, with particular changes noted near Emeryville. Jim Cloran, a biologist with extensive experience studying the bay, explains that water color is influenced by light absorption, with non-living clay particles and microscopic algae (phytoplankton) contributing to the green hue through various sources like erosion and runoff. Data collected since 1968 shows an increasing trend of phytoplankton abundance, leading to greener bay waters, partly attributed to reduced sediment input and shifts in the biological communities.

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