Bangladesh, 11 March, 2016: Do you want to surf in glowing blue water, at night? Then you have these places to visit across the world. Choose whichever suits you, or choose all of them.
The microalgae named Noctiluca scintillans, is responsible for a red stain in the waters, also known as red tide; and results in a blue glow in the water when disturbed at night. The dinoflagellate bloom can be deadly, and it desiccates giving off ammonia when it dies. However, good news is swimming or surfing in this bloom, is not lethal or not even harmful.
“It’s a chemical reaction that’s released by oxygen. The organisms emit a light-emitting pigment. Basically that reacts with oxygen. Therefore, when you react with the waves and bring excess oxygen into the water you glow. When the waves break and oxygen is getting mixed in the water is dark but the wave breaks, the foam, is emitting the light,†says wildlife biologist Forrest Galante.
There are quite many in Tasmania, and there are others across the world.
No, this is not an animation picture. This is a photograph from Glowing Worm Cave in Waitomo, New Zealand.
This is surreal effect, heightened in intensity by the photographer, is created when water in a bioluminescent bay is disturbed. The glow is produced by microscopic single celled organisms called dinoflagellates, which emit light or phosphoresce by whatever disturbs their nightly floatation. This bay, Mosquito Bay or Bio Bay, is off the southern coast of the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico. It is one of the last ecosystems on earth where this occurs.
Natural-bridge-Springbrook-National-Park-in-Queensland-@mitchellwilder
Sometimes it is just the waves hitting the shore or the rock, and sometimes its water animals, which annoys the algae causing the eerie blue glow. It could even be you, swimming in, that could cause the same phenomena; all you have to do is choose. These are some of the locations, but there are numerous and may be they are nearer to you.
Take my advice; do not forget to take someone to photograph the moment.
This phenomenon is known as bioluminescence. If you are interested to know about other bioluminescent organisms here is an article for you.
By: Sumayea Binte Shafiul
Journalist, Glocal Khabar, BangladeshÂ
