The water is burning off the coast of California.
At dusk, the ocean waves reveal millions of sparkling blue lights The sea is as magical as it is splashed with glitter. These eddies are actually algae known as dinoflagellates.
In late summer, watching the ocean glow becomes an annual tradition, with videos showing surfers, dolphins and boats diving into the sparkling sea.
This natural phenomenon has been observed in recent days in coastal and coastal areas of San Diego.
Some even dive. Two weeks ago, Kayla Kelly, PhD in marine ecology, fell 40 meters into the ocean at night and was suddenly surrounded by algae blooms.
"You wave your arm and it's a magical explosion of blue that reflects every movement," Kelly said. He dived for an hour and said it was the fattest flower he had ever seen.
The science behind this light
An explosion of glowing algae is called an algal bloom, and it can get worse depending on the climate emergency. But for the bright species, Kelly says climate change is contributing, but no link has been established.
During last year's bloom, our editorial team spoke with Clarissa Anderson, executive director of the Southern California Coastal Ocean Monitoring System based at the Scripps Oceanographic Institution.
He explained that light is created by collisions with algae, waves, people or ships (you get the idea).
"The shock that activates these cells causes a chemical reaction that stops light exposure," Anderson said.
"It's thought to have something to do with deterring predators like others that only eat under the microscope," he said.
Anderson and I spoke again this week and he said that glowing algae have been around California since the 19th century. "It's normal and it's been happening for a long time."
The extent to which blue-green algae and their toxins affect ecosystems is not well understood.
According to Kelly, the toxin irritates human skin after diving. "The poison made my skin itch."
The best solution is to see it in real life.
Blooms can last from weeks to months and are usually not found north of Los Angeles.
In the Los Angeles area, the glowing algae are best seen when we dive, but in San Diego, you can see them from the deck. In the last 10-15 years, the duration and intensity have increased, but it is still difficult to predict exactly when they will appear.
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