Bioluminescent Waves Have Made a Return to SoCal Shores

Bioluminescent waves were all the rage this time four years ago. Yes, it happens every so often so many of us have seen the phenomenon. But images and footage of the neon blue waves at night never cease to amaze.

“The red tide is due to aggregations of the dinoflagellate Lingulodinium polyedra, a species well known for its bioluminescent displays,” Michael Latz, a scientist and bioluminescence expert at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego explained back in 2020. “Each microscopic cell contains some ‘sunscreen,’ giving it a reddish-brown color. On sunny days, the organisms swim toward the surface where they concentrate, resulting in the intensified coloration of the water – and the reason for the term ‘red tide.’ At night, when the phytoplankton are agitated by waves or other movement in the water, they emit a dazzling neon blue glow.”

The neon blue nighttime waves have made a return to San Diego’s shores recently and a handful of UC San Diego surfers have been hunting them down for their own local strike missions.

The Scripps Institution of Oceanography has said the best place to see these waves in San Diego has been on the north side of the Scripps Pier thanks to light pollution being lower than other nearby areas. How long the colored waves stick around is anybody’s guess.

“While we can’t guarantee that you will see this stunning natural display tonight, there is currently a red tide event impacting San Diego beaches,” the institution said on May 14.

The post Bioluminescent Waves Have Made a Return to SoCal Shores first appeared on The Inertia.