Here is a NYT article discussing how algae blooms in Qingdao could pose a serious problem for the Olympic sailing competition scheduled to take place in six weeks. Officials have begun clean-up efforts and are confident that the waters will be algae free by July 15th. Small boats are scooping the algae from the water and using it to feed animals on local farms. To be fair, China has promised a "Green Olympics".
Algae growth can be accelerated by a combination of conditions including sea temperature and nitrate concentrations. Chinese scientists identify seasonal warming in the Yellow Sea and increased precipitation as responsible for the most recent bloom. However, the common practice of dumping raw sewage into surface waters in China would certainly tend to increase the nitrogen content of the coastal waters. Furthermore, runoff water rich in minerals due to soil erosion and agricultural fertilization supply additional N to the mix; an effect that would be exagerrated by increased precipitation. Interestingly, this phenomenon (nitrogen eutrophication for my nerds out there) has been linked with fish kills in the estuarial waters of North Carolina and other Atlantic locales.
Some interesting things from a political perspective:
"Media reports estimate as many as 20,000 people have either volunteered or been ordered to participate in the operation, while 1,000 boats are scooping algae out of the Yellow Sea."
"On Tuesday, [Beijing] will begin removing 300,000 high-polluting vehicles, mostly trucks, from local roads. Later in July, the city will institute temporary restrictions to remove half of all vehicles from the streets."
"But air quality remains such a problem that officials also are preparing contingency plans that could force temporary factory shutdowns across much of northern China if conditions warrant."
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