The unprecedented 2022 extreme summer heatwaves increased harmful cyanobacteria blooms

Guangzhou Key Laboratory for Research and Development of Crop Germplasm Resources, College of Agriculture & Biology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou 510225, China Heatwaves are increasing and expected to intensify in coming decades with global warming. However, direct evidence and knowledge of the mechanisms of the effects of heatwaves on harmful cyanobacteria blooms are limited and un-clear. In 2022, we measured chlorophyll-a (Chla) at 20-s intervals based on a novel ground-based proximal sensing sys-tem (GBPSs) in the shallow eutrophic Lake Taihu and combined in situ Chla measurements with meteorological data to explore the impacts of heatwaves on cyanobacterial blooms and the potential relevant mechanisms. We found that three unprecedented summer heatwaves (July 4-15, July 22-August 16, and August 18-23) lasting a total of 44 days were observed with average maximum air temperatures (MATs) of 38.1 & PLUSMN; 1.9 & DEG;C, 38.7 & PLUSMN; 1.9 & DEG;C, and 40.2 & PLUSMN; 2.1 & DEG;C, respectively, and that these heatwaves were characterized by high air temperature, strong PAR, low wind speed and rainfall. The daily Chla significantly increased with increasing MAT and photosynthetically active ra-diation (PAR) and decreasing wind speed, revealing a clear promotion effect on harmful cyanobacteria blooms from the heatwaves. Moreover, the combined effects of high temperature, strong PAR and low wind, enhanced the stability of the water column, the light availability and the phosphorus release from the sediment which ultimately boosted

Automated summary

This study measured the chlorophyll-a content in lakes like Lake Taihu and found that heatwaves have a significant promotion effect on harmful cyanobacteria blooms, leading to the deterioration of water quality.