The sight looks like an alien sea shown in a science fiction movie, witnesses say. There are neon blue-capped waves and azure-spattered sands along a beach in Melbourne, Australia. The rare but increasingly occurring phenomenon is caused by bioluminescent algae. The algae is named Nocticula scintillans. It is informally called “sea sparkle.” It has shone on St. Kilda Beach in recent days. Crowds have flocked to see it. Marine biologist Richard Pensak told CNN the algae has a “magical, ethereal glow.” Their appearance has a downside, though. Pensak told CNN “it can be a sign of an unhealthy ocean.” The algae occurs naturally. But its frequency has risen quickly in the past three decades. That's especially true in Australia. Scientists say the rising frequency and intensity of these blooms result from rising ocean temps. Noctiluca scintillans flourish in warm-water temperatures of 18 degrees Celsius (°C) and 25°C. They are now more common due to climate change, scientists say. Higher temps lead to increased nutrient enrichment. That's known as eutrophication. Higher temps also lower oxygen levels. They tend to promote this algae over other types of plankton. By day, the blooms appear pink and orange. Studies show that the blooms tend to arrive with spring and summer. In Australia, spring is soon to start. There, the seasons are opposite from the northern hemisphere. The algae aren’t toxic to humans. But they can be harmful to fish. That's because they have more ammonia in them. That, and because they deplete oxygen in the water. The blooms are linked to fish kills off the coast of India. But they are “awe-inspiring,” Ryan Abramowitz of Melbourne told The Guardian. He said they are “shimmering galaxies whirling and swirling across the shore.” Reflect: What is something beautiful in nature that has made you stop and think more deeply about the world or the environment? Photo of waves carrying bioluminescent algae courtesy Drashokk on Wikimedia Commons.
