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Bright blue, glowing waves have returned to Southern California. Over the past week, bioluminescent algae have been spotted lighting up nighttime beaches, and Instagram user @pyrofarms captured photos and video of surfers riding a glowing break in Encinitas.
“I was taking pictures of the algal bloom at Moonlight Beach last night and did not know I would end up with some great surfing shots,” wrote pyrofarms. “It was a fun night at Moonlight Beach in the moonlight. Encinitas, California. Big bright moon, campfires and bioluminescent waves.”
In the past week, other social media users have spotted the glowing waves at a number of beaches in the area. According to the Mercury News, bioluminescent waves were spotted off the coast of Oxnard, Malibu, Newport, Laguna, and San Diego.
The glowing waves are caused by bioluminescent plankton called dinoflagellates. The algae turn the ocean red during the day (also called a red tide), but emit a blue flash when agitated at night.
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