Red Tide, Blue Waves Crash On Orange County Coastline

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — The ocean has sported the dark tinge of a red tide over the past few weeks, but that rich earth tone burns bright and blue at night, spectators have discovered. The electric blue waves are magic to look at, with sparking colors that follow the rush of water. The scientific name for the phenomenon is bioluminescence, and not as much magic as science.

In Orange County, residents have cautiously made their way to the darkened coast to see the light show caused by tiny yet prolific dinoflagellates that are behind the red tide.

The phenomenon began in late April continues the first week of May, 2020, a bright spot amid the coronavirus beach closures up and down the county, from as far south as Baja California to the north in Los Angeles.

The tiny creatures turn bright blue in "predator avoidance behavior," according to bioluminescence expert Michael Latz, a scientist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego.

Nowhere is the event more stunning than what was captured by Newport Coastal Adventure tours the last week of April, when they captured dolphins swimming in the phenomenon. Looking like a Harry Potter Patronus charm, these mammals seemed to be enjoying the experience as much as those who caught it on camera.

The current red tide is due to aggregations of the dinoflagellate Lingulodinium polyedra, Latz said. The species is known for its bioluminescent displays.

Have you seen it? Send your bioluminescent pictures to Patch! and we'll share them with our readers.