The sight was noticed at Juhu on Wednesday evening, and at Devgad and Velas seashores in Ratnagiri. (Representational)
Waves hitting Maharashtra’s shoreline, together with Juhu Seaside, have been a shimmering shade of blue over the previous few nights. The phenomenon known as ‘blue tide’, when luminescent marine life makes the ocean seem a deep shade of blue, was noticed throughout a number of coastal areas this yr.
The spectacle happens when phytoplankton (microscopic marine vegetation), generally generally known as dinoflagellates, produce mild by means of chemical reactions in proteins, stated researchers. Waves disturb these unicellular microorganisms and makes them launch blue mild, they added.
The sight was noticed at Juhu on Wednesday evening, and at Devgad and Velas seashores in Ratnagiri. Throughout India’s coast, the spectacle has been witnessed from November to January and, in some cases, even in March. Not too long ago, the ‘blue tide’ was witnessed alongside Dakshina Kannada-Udupi coast. The sight has been noticed in lots of seashores internationally, equivalent to Maldives, Vietnam, Indonesia, USA, and Australia.
Bioluminescence was first reported from Mumbai in November 2016 when it was noticed for 2 weeks. Based on marine specialists, mild air pollution in Mumbai, particularly round seashores, may very well be a serious purpose for this phenomenon not being seen or reported because the glow is seen in the dead of night.
Shaunak Modi, director, Coastal Conservation Basis, captured the bioluminescence on Wednesday evening on Juhu Seaside. “It’s a recurring phenomenon, however a tough one to seize on metropolis seashores. One purpose is mild air pollution on our seashores.”
Consultants level out that prime temperature, excessive amount of natural materials, equivalent to sewage and effluents and elevated turbulence/wave motion of the water, may very well be one of many causes behind the blue tide.
