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White foam on ocean
Posted by RonS on April 16, 2024, 9:19 am
Does anyone have any idea where that white foam (sometimes yellow) in our bay is coming from? It is odd that it seems to have started with the opening of Tamarindo and is coming from that direction. Ron
Re: White foam on ocean
Posted by daviddagoli on April 16, 2024, 10:28 am, in reply to "White foam on ocean"
The foam is from the current red tide conditions here in the bay.
The algae can remove all the oxygen from surrounding waters. When the algae is exposed to agitation, as in the waves close to shore, it becomes oxygenated again, causing white or green foam.
Fishers here are going further up the coast because they’re not catching anything near La Manzanilla.
The ocean temperature off the west coast has been steadily decreasing. The warm El Niño current is collapsing, and the cooler La Niña is replacing it. This change could be partially responsible for the large algae bloom.
The marea roja has already stuck around for longer than we can remember- around 2 weeks now. Normally there is accompanying bio-luminescence providing a stunning light show at night…but not this year.
Today it looks clearer in the ocean- perhaps it is abating…
These drone shots by German García show it clearly - taken yesterday
Re: White foam on ocean
Posted by IkeL on April 18, 2024, 10:02 am, in reply to "White foam on ocean"
Ron, You are correct that the foam is coming from Tamarindo - that is to say, from the direction of Tamarindo. We paddle the coast to Tamarindo three times a week and have a good idea of what is happening. The foam that is forming from the surf impact out at the Tamarindo point floats on top of the water and is driven by the wind towards LM. The prevailing wind every day in Tenacatita Bay comes from the southwest. Therefore, the foam appears to be coming from Tamarindo. Actually, when we were at Tamarindo yesterday, there is no foam there. It is just drifting towards LM in the wind and was about halfway here. Paddling through the thick foam was totally surrealistic, like paddling through clouds. Maybe I should carry a kayak paddle in my airplane? 😎 Tailwinds to you!