Algae scrubber

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/algae-scrubber

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the nutrient export mechanism?Physical removal of algal biomass, which contains assimilated nitrates and phosphates
2. What is the system benefits?Reduces nitrates/phosphates, buffers pH, increases dissolved oxygen, and enhances overall ecosystem resilience
3. How does an algae scrubber clean water?Light makes the algae photosynthesize, so they eat nutrients like nitrates and phosphates from the water. The algae grow quickly and keep the water clear and healthy.
4. Why do algae scrubbers need light?Algae need light to perform photosynthesis, which lets them grow and absorb the nutrients that would otherwise make the water dirty.

Ecological Engineering: Designing ecosystems to provide human benefits while also benefiting the environment.
Nutrient Export: The process of removing nutrients from an aquatic system, typically by removing biomass.
Eutrophication: The excessive richness of nutrients in a body of water, causing dense algal growth and oxygen depletion.