Bioluminescence Has Been Showing Up on California Beaches All Summer

For much of the summer "bioluminescence" shows have been happening up and down the California coast

Earlier in the summer (May) much of it was spotted in Southern California - more recently, it's been further north in Santa Cruz County

Here's how a high concentration of a special type of algae makes it happen:

From CBS LA:

On sunny days, the water gives off a murky reddish hue, and at night, when the organisms are agitated by movements, they emit a neon blue glow.

Red tide can sometimes have harmful impacts on fish, marine mammals and birds, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Experts also say that not all of these algal blooms are harmful and that most times they actually provide food and nutrients for oceanic plants and animals, NOAA said.


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