Bioluminescence
The mesmerizing neon light show is caused by a phenomenon where colonies of algae, simple plants that live in water, bloom. During the day millions of algae, called dinoflagellates, appear as a reddish-brown color on the ocean’s surface known as a “red tide“ and give off an unpleasant, sulfur-like odor as it decays. "Red tides” pop up all over the world but not all provide dazzling neon displays when night falls. When the mass of dinoflagellates are mixed up by waves or larger ocean life, a chemical reaction involving enzyme luciferase and compound luciferin produced by the algae is what causes bioluminescence, the creation of light by a living organism.
Bioluminescence created a magical sight along a stretch of the Santa Cruz County coastline. Forseveral nights at Seacliff State Beach in Aptos, waves glowed with a beautiful blue light.
The light is created by a bloom of bioluminescent phytoplankton. A bloom usually occurs when the ocean has an influx of nutrients, followed by a calm period that allows the water to stratify (form layers). In these concentrated layers, the phytoplankton illuminates in response to the motion (such as a wave crashing onshore).
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Photos by: Amy Medina Photography