Stunning footage shows glowing blue dolphins after sunset
ByLauren Fox, AccuWeather staff writer
Published Apr 25, 2020 6:42 PM EDT
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After embarking on a boating exploration to see some dolphins on Wednesday night, Patrick Coyne discovered an incredible sight.
In a video captured by Coyne, a pod of dolphins are seen swimming along the edge of their boat, glowing a bright neon blue color as they glide through the water.
The video was taken in Newport Beach, California. UPI has reported earlier this month that the algae in the water at Newport Beach is what makes this possible, and can make the crashing waves on the beach glow as well.
The explanation behind the stunning phenomenon is bioluminescence, when a chemical reaction causes light to shine from a living organism, giving the creature a glowing effect.
While the effect is rare to see with land creatures, more bioluminescent creatures can be found in the depths of the ocean. According to The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a whopping 80% of all species living 200- to 1,000-meters deep in the ocean are bioluminescent.
A large group of dolphins in the Red Sea. (lemga/Getty Images)
Most bioluminescent marine life glows either blue or green. These colors are not only the easiest to see in the dark ocean, but the only colors many ocean-dwelling creatures are physically able to see. According to National Geographic, most marine life is unable to process yellow, red or violet.
Bioluminescent algae, which was responsible for the glow of the dolphins in the video, glows in response to environmental changes, like a drop in salt content in the water, making a flashing effect.
"Milky seas" are similar to bioluminescent algae, however instead of flashing the glow is continuous, and believed to be from bacteria. National Geographic reported that milky seas can sometimes be seen from satellites in space.
Coyne was invited to shoot the video by Capt. Ryan Lawler from Newport Coastal Adventure. He said capturing the bioluminescence was a "dream" for him, however it came with challenges.
Bioluminescence in night blue sea water.Blue fluorescent wave of bioluminescent plankton about mangrove forest in Khok Kham ,Samut Sakhon near Bangkok Thailand. (Natthapon Muttabunnakarn / Getty Images)
"The bioluminescence has sweet spots to where it shows up and then fades away so while on the water it’s impossible to just find it," Coyne said in a Facebook post. "Not only that but actually finding any type of animal in pitch black is just so ridiculously hard. Conditions have to be absolutely perfect [for] the bioluminescence to show up and to have an animal swim through it so we can film it."
Despite the difficulties with catching the perfect shot, Coyne called the rare encounter "truly one of the most magical nights of my life."
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News / Weather News
Stunning footage shows glowing blue dolphins after sunset
By Lauren Fox, AccuWeather staff writer
Published Apr 25, 2020 6:42 PM EDT
After embarking on a boating exploration to see some dolphins on Wednesday night, Patrick Coyne discovered an incredible sight.
In a video captured by Coyne, a pod of dolphins are seen swimming along the edge of their boat, glowing a bright neon blue color as they glide through the water.
The video was taken in Newport Beach, California. UPI has reported earlier this month that the algae in the water at Newport Beach is what makes this possible, and can make the crashing waves on the beach glow as well.
The explanation behind the stunning phenomenon is bioluminescence, when a chemical reaction causes light to shine from a living organism, giving the creature a glowing effect.
While the effect is rare to see with land creatures, more bioluminescent creatures can be found in the depths of the ocean. According to The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a whopping 80% of all species living 200- to 1,000-meters deep in the ocean are bioluminescent.
A large group of dolphins in the Red Sea. (lemga/Getty Images)
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Most bioluminescent marine life glows either blue or green. These colors are not only the easiest to see in the dark ocean, but the only colors many ocean-dwelling creatures are physically able to see. According to National Geographic, most marine life is unable to process yellow, red or violet.
Bioluminescent algae, which was responsible for the glow of the dolphins in the video, glows in response to environmental changes, like a drop in salt content in the water, making a flashing effect.
Related:
"Milky seas" are similar to bioluminescent algae, however instead of flashing the glow is continuous, and believed to be from bacteria. National Geographic reported that milky seas can sometimes be seen from satellites in space.
Coyne was invited to shoot the video by Capt. Ryan Lawler from Newport Coastal Adventure. He said capturing the bioluminescence was a "dream" for him, however it came with challenges.
Bioluminescence in night blue sea water.Blue fluorescent wave of bioluminescent plankton about mangrove forest in Khok Kham ,Samut Sakhon near Bangkok Thailand. (Natthapon Muttabunnakarn / Getty Images)
"The bioluminescence has sweet spots to where it shows up and then fades away so while on the water it’s impossible to just find it," Coyne said in a Facebook post. "Not only that but actually finding any type of animal in pitch black is just so ridiculously hard. Conditions have to be absolutely perfect [for] the bioluminescence to show up and to have an animal swim through it so we can film it."
Despite the difficulties with catching the perfect shot, Coyne called the rare encounter "truly one of the most magical nights of my life."
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