Passengers on a Newport Beach boat got a special treat on Monday night. They caught a rare glimpse of dolphins swimming through pretty blue glowing waters.
The iridescent waves are connected with a phenomenon called a “red tide,” according to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
A red tide is described by researchers as a build-up or bloom of microscopic organisms that are similar to plankton. These organisms are called Lingulodinium polyedra.
By day, these organisms are a reddish-brown color, creating a strong red color in the water, hence the name “red tide.” By night, waves — or something moving in the water, like a dolphin — agitate the plankton, prompting a chemical reaction that creates that gorgeous blue glow.
However, the red tide can be quite unpredictable. As soon as it rolls into shallow waters, it’s hard to know how long it will last. Previous bioluminescence events have lasted anywhere from a week to several months, according to Scripps.
To see the beautiful dolphins in bioluminescent waves, click on the video below.
Source: FOX4KC