A high load average on a system typically indicates that the system is experiencing a higher demand for resources (like CPU, memory, disk I/O) than it can currently handle. The load average is a metric that represents the average number of processes in the system's run queue over a certain period of time. It's usually calculated over 1, 5, and 15-minute intervals.

For example, a load average of 1.00 means that on average, there is one process waiting for CPU time. A load average of 2.00 indicates that, on average, there are two processes waiting for CPU time.

Here are some common root causes of high load averages:

1. CPU-bound Processes: If there are processes that are heavily using the CPU, they can cause a high load average. This could be due to a specific application or task that is consuming a lot of processing power.

2. Too Many Processes: If there are too many active processes, and the system's resources (especially CPU cores) are limited, it can lead to a high load average.

3. Insufficient RAM: When the available RAM is exhausted, the system starts using disk swap space, which is significantly slower. This can lead to higher load averages.

4. I/O Bound Processes: Processes that are heavily using the disk I/O can contribute to high load averages. This could be due to tasks like heavy database operations or reading/writing large files.

5. Network Bottlenecks: If there are network-related tasks that are consuming a lot of resources, it can lead to high load averages.

6. Misconfigured Software: Incorrect settings or configurations in software applications or services can lead to resource overutilization, causing high load averages.

7. Hardware Failure: A failing hard drive or other hardware components can lead to a high load average, especially if it's related to disk I/O.

8. Sudden Traffic Spikes: A sudden surge in traffic to a server, such as during a DDoS attack or due to a viral event, can lead to high load averages.

9. Inefficient Code: Poorly optimized or inefficiently written code can cause high CPU usage, leading to high load averages.

To troubleshoot and resolve high load average issues, you'll need to monitor system resources (CPU, memory, disk I/O), identify the specific processes that are consuming resources, and take appropriate actions. This might involve optimizing code, adding more resources (CPU, RAM), or reconfiguring software.

Keep in mind that the specific steps to address high load averages can vary depending on the operating system and the specific applications running on the system.