The Black Sea has become red, and the waves are phosphorescent at night. The researchers’ explanation for the phenomenon

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Unusual phenomenon on the coast! The Black Sea turned red. A type of algae has invaded the waters, which are much warmer than usual, and has created a spectacular landscape. At night, the waves even become phosphorescent. Researchers say the algae are not dangerous to fish.

By Cristina Niță on 19.02.2024, 19:50

“And we entered a section of red water. The whole coast, up to Mamaia, there are a lot of sections. Forget now, the whole section here”. The rare phenomenon attracted the attention, but also the concern of the specialists who went out to sea.

Why did the Black Sea turn red?

The explanation is, however, simple. The sea water was 8 degrees, much warmer than usual, which caused a microalgae to appear that developed rapidly. Vegetation migrates to warmer waters.

“The red spots are huge. They stretch over an area of ​​15 kilometers, and at the shore the color is even more intense,” says Cristina Niţă, Observer reporter. “They develop in large quantities when they have an abundant amount of food. Usually, they are brought by the currents to a warmer area and that is why they can be observed in port areas”, explained Elena Bișinicu, INCDM scientific researcher.

“This appears, in principle, at the beginning of the phenomenon in the nuclei, after which, if the conditions are good, it develops throughout the water mass”, adds Razvan Popescu Mirceni, marine researcher.

At night, the waves become phosphorescent

“The water temperature is unnaturally high. We would not have expected to see it in such a large quantity, during the winter. This algae is also bioluminescent, it produces a light that generates the phenomenon of phosphorescence of waves. It is trophic for everything that underwater life means”, stated Adrian Bîlbă, scientific researcher.

The phenomenon impresses tourists. “Very, very beautiful. I’ve never seen anything like this before,” confesses a tourist. “In the summer there were those algae that made the oxygen disappear, but now, in the winter, I don’t know,” says a man. “Interesting! Anyway, the sea every year offers interesting phenomena”, thinks a woman.

It is not the first time that red spots have appeared on the Romanian coast. And in April last year, the black sea was red for a few days.

Events Observatory The Black Sea has become red, and the waves are phosphorescent at night. The researchers’ explanation for the phenomenon