Just this morning I had a viewer, Krystal Koolman, email me asking if the pictures of blue waves showing up in Bolivar are real. They sure are! The picture above is from Mitchell Saunders who lives in Bolivar and took this photo just two nights ago.
He tells me: We live in Bolivar and see it every spring. It typically lasts 2 to 4 weeks. You can see it on the waves and it is really cool to make pictures in the sand as it will glow when you rub your hand or foot over it.
THAT is very cool!
So just what makes these waves blue?
Called bioluminescence, they are a result of algae blooms caused by plankton, which are very small sea plants or animal organisms drifting through the oceans. Phytoplankton are the plants, microscopic and found near the water surface because they rely on the sun’s energy to support them. The animal zooplankton are microscopic as well and eat the plant plankton... in turn, larger fish eat them! What a sea cycle!
According to NOAA: Plankton are incredibly important to the ocean ecosystem, and very sensitive to changes in their environment, including in the temperature, salinity, pH level, and nutrient concentration of the water.
Plankton create algae blooms of red (sometimes red tide), green and blue and it is this blue we’re seeing in Bolivar right now. These bioluminescent waves can be seen all over the world, all it takes is warm, calm ocean water!
As Mitchell reports, Bolivar sees these waves every spring for two to four weeks, and since they have just started appearing this week there is the chance if you’re in Galveston for spring break you may seem them as well! You can learn more about these waves from NOAA and for tons of pictures and information on where to see these waves visit the Bolivar Beachcombers Facebook page. It’s all the talk right now!
And please, if you get some pics, post them on Click2houston.com/pins.
Did I mention it’s the weekend!
Clocks go forward an hour Saturday/Sunday, so tomorrow is the last for an early sunset -- by Sunday we get sun downs around 7:30 p.m.! Enjoy!
Frank,
Email me with comments and questions