Cayuga Lake 📍
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Whitening Event on Cayuga Lake, July 9, 2026 MODIS Terra
A "whitening" or "whiting" event on Cayuga Lake is a natural phenomenon where the water's surface turns a milky turquoise or white. It is caused by the sudden, massive open-water precipitation of microscopic calcium carbonate (calcite) crystals.These events typically occur during the warm summer months (usually July or August) when surface water temperatures rise and intense algal photosynthesis pushes the water's pH up. The crystals scatter sunlight, dramatically changing the water's appearance and briefly lowering water clarity.


