Skip to content »
Skip to second navigation »

Apr

01

2012

Aug

01

2012

Apr

01

2013

Aug

01

2013

Apr

01

2014

Aug

01

2014

Apr

01

2015

Aug

01

2015

Apr

01

2016

Aug

01

2016


See Bioluminescence Bloom at California's Red Tide

Published by Mona Rae, Writer

Country: United States

The Experience

Many people visit California each year to take in its culture, wine, and natural beauty. Among the lesser-known attractions is a phenomenon referred to as California’s red tide. When this environmental event occurs, the waters of the Pacific along the coast turn red, creating a stunning visual effect and a troubling environmental issue.

Also known as algal bloom, the red tide of California is the result of the exponential multiplication of algae that emit Bioluminescence and change the colour of the water. This particular bloom of algae decreases the oxygen levels in the water and releases toxins that depending on the intensity can be harmful to both humans and animals. If you witness a red tide when you travel to California, during the day it may appear that the sun is dissolving into the ocean, or that the ocean has been transformed by a red wave of blood. Find a quiet spot on the sand in the dark of night though, and you're in for some super charged surf. At night the waves turn the algae from red to neon blue. These electrified waters are a dazzling spectacle to witness, easily comparable to the beauty of the Auror Borealis.

Though beautiful to observe and photograph, California’s red tide presents a danger to the coast. The algae that cause the California red tide, actually travel from long distances and are brought by ships and other sailing vessels, or even storms. These tides were never considered harmful until 1980 when American scientists found that they carried toxins. This could have been caused due to the industrial boom, chemical farming and pollution. A close examination of these toxins did not reveal any information. It is unknown even today as to why these toxins are formed. However harmful these toxins prove to be to humanity, the fish and the krill that live in the ocean remain unaffected by it.

Technology has been developed to detect the California red tide and other algal blooms worldwide. Not all red tides are harmful, and so satellite imagery is used to detect red tides and assess the potential environmental impact. Some research suggests that shellfish play a role in carrying the harmful algae and the larger fish that consume the shellfish during a red tide, died. So detecting the phenomenon helps scientists monitor the harmful growth and also warn people against consuming shellfish.

Organizations such as Cal-PReEMPT (California Program for Regional Enhanced Monitoring for Psycho-Toxins), and the Environmental Protection Agency, monitor the occurrence of red tide and issue warnings accordingly. Research has linked California’s red tide to the appearance of hundreds of dead seagulls on California’s coast, and scientists continue to assess the causes and impacts of algal bloom.

An increase in the incidence of red tides in California, paired with the availability of satellite imagery, has increased the interest in this phenomenon.

Photos

Map

Puzzle

When to Go to Red Tide California

The best time to visit California’s coast to view the red tide is in the summer when the weather is warm. It is advisable to bring rain gear because the weather can be unpredictable. California’s red tide typically occurs between April and August. Visiting the websites of California’s environmental agencies prior to your tour of California will help locate local sites where red tides are in effect, such as the coast of San Mateo County, where they frequently occur.

Places to Eat

Edith's
Cuisines: Mexican Good for: Romantic, Business, Local cuisine, Special Occasion Dining, Entertaining clients Dining options: Lunch Spot, Dinner, Reservations

More Experiences Nearby

Climb Aboard the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier in San Diego, California
The USS Midway was an operational aircraft of the United States Navy for 47 years before it was decommissioned in 1992. The USS Midway was active in the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm during the Gulf War in the early ‘90s. It became a museum in 2004 at the San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum in California. Since then, over five million visitors have explored the 1,001 ft.-long, 258 ft.-wide USS Midway Museum. When you see the USS Midway from the sidewalk, along the shoreline, you don’t quite grasp the sheer magnitude of its size until you climb aboard and ...11 miles away.

Video

Video Wall

You are now being transfered to our Video Wall

Books and DVDs

Lonely Planet California Regional Travel Guide
Bioluminescence: Chemical Principles and Methods

Elsewhere on the Web

Cal-PReEMPT -Calpreempt.ucsc.edu

Media References

At night, a red tide glows blue along the San Diego County coast - LATimes.com (newspaper)

Language Guides

French , Hindi , Indonesian , Italian , Japanese , Lao , Malay , Mandarin , Portugese , Russian , Spanish , Thai , Turkish , Vietnamese are some of the languages spoken in United States. If you know of a freely available phrase book or podcast for one of the missing languages, let us know!

Discussion

Experienced this and have something to share? Experienced something like this somewhere else? Looking for advise or travel companions? Use this space to leave your mark. Our writers and editors are more than happy to help answer your questions.

People with experience


Recent Tweets

Listed below are the most recent comments made on Twitter for "red tide california":