Red Tide Bioluminescence gives spectacular neon blue light show [Video]

Red Tide Bioluminescence gives spectacular neon blue light show [Video]

http://www.theweatherspace.com/news/TWS-100211_red-tide-bloom.html

Published on October 2, 2011 8:25 am PT - By TWS Science Reporter - Signed by SEO Officer

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(TheWeatherSpace.com) - In one of the most spectacular ocean displays, 'Red Tide' is awing people in San Diego County. The Culprit; Phyoplankton. this Algal Bloom season has been going on since Late August.

Red Tide gets the name from the color of the water during the daytime. The color of the water is due to the Algal Bloom, in which large numbers of aquatic microorganism accumulate rapidly in the water. This causes a discolored surface.

"Red Tide" bioluminescence phenomenon

http://www.animalpicturesarchive.com/view.php?tid=2&did=34800

Eye-Catching Bioluminescent Wonders - Red Tide [LiveScience 2011-07-08]

Tide Lightshow
Credit: Matt Catalano | neverendingsearch.net

The "red tide" bioluminescence phenomenon — when waves of water appear to glow neon green, blue from within — is actually caused by millions of tiny organisms called dinoflagellates. These are a subcategory of plankton, which are single-celled marine organisms that are capable of photosynthesis. An overgrowth of these organisms causes visible patches to "bloom" on the water's surface in red, yellow, brown, red or even black colors during the day. But at night, the concentration of bioluminescent plankton lights up as it washes ashore with the tide. The mysterious glow comes from the dinoflagelletes reacting to being disturbed. When the tiny organisms are bothered, they produce a light that lasts for a fraction of a second. The flash serves to surprise predators and possibly attract other predators to the creature disturbing the dinoflagellate, which will likely cause the original offender to leave the plankton alone.

Source: LiveScience - http://www.livescience.com