What is eutrophication?

Eutrophication is defined as the enrichment of a water body with nutrients, particularly phosphorus and nitrogen, which can lead to excessive growth of algae and aquatic plants. This process often occurs in lakes, rivers, and coastal areas and can be triggered by runoff from agricultural activities, sewage discharge, and industrial effluents that contain high levels of nutrients.

As nutrient levels increase, a rapid algal bloom can occur, which may reduce oxygen levels in the water when the algae die and decompose. This can create hypoxic conditions, adversely impacting aquatic life and disrupting the ecosystem balance. Ultimately, eutrophication can lead to dead zones where few organisms can survive, demonstrating its significant environmental implications.

The other choices address unrelated concepts; natural groundwater purification does not relate to nutrient enrichment, agricultural techniques while relevant to land use, do not define eutrophication, and chemical pollution, while sometimes a contributing factor, does not capture the essence of the nutrient enrichment process itself.