PHOTOGRAHY: Ocean colour scene: Waves on Californian beach lit up by mysterious blue glow at midnight #Photography

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Ocean colour scene: Waves on Californian beach lit up by mysterious blue glow at midnight

  • Chemical reaction, called bioluminescence, occurs when micro-organism in sea is disturbed by oxygen in waves

By Rob Waugh

PUBLISHED: 05:38 EST, 12 July 2012 | UPDATED: 06:06 EST, 12 July 2012

At midnight, all around was dark, but each crash of the waves at a famous surfing beach created an eerie blue flash – caught on camera by a photographer who had a camera ready to capture the strange phenomenon.
Steve Skinner visited the beach especially for the sight, caused by algae in the water at Swami’s.

When the waves crash it causes the algae to give off a flash of blue light – called bioluminescence – as the millions of organisms are disturbed.

The amazing images were snapped at midnight by photographer Steve Skinner who visited the beach especially for the sight
Part of the sea was illuminated a stunning shade of blue due to a natural phenonemon called algae bloom
Part of the sea was illuminated a stunning shade of blue due to a natural phenonemon called algae bloom
When the waves crash it causes the algae to give off a flash of blue light - called bioluminescence - as the millions of organisms are disturbed
When the waves crash it causes the algae to give off a flash of blue light – called bioluminescence – as the millions of organisms are disturbed

Despite its remarkable appearance, the huge bloom of algae is actually quite damaging as it decreases the water’s oxygen and harms fish.Meanwhile, during the day the water discolouration, otherwise known as red tide, can cause the water to turn a horrible reddish-brown colour.

The stretch of water, which is part of the Pacific Ocean, was illuminated for a week before the glow diminished.

Steve, 43, from Carlsbad, California, said: ‘It is a popular phenomenon and people go see it especially whenever it happens.

‘I had planned to visit the beach to specifically shoot these type of images and…
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2172482/California-dreaming-Waves-popular-surfer-beach-glow-bright-blue-midnight.html#ixzz20Ri5Ry1b

Steve, 43, from Carlsbad, California, said: “It is a popular phenomenon and people go see it especially whenever it happens.”

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