Incredible bioluminescent waves
This natural phenomenon was observed on the island of Mudhdhoo in the Baa atoll.
Bioluminescence occurs when millions of organisms accumulate along a beach.
Interviewed by the Huffington Post, biologist James Morin from Cornell University explains that these are not phytoplankton, as you might expect, but tiny crustaceans known as ostracods.
Some of these ostracods have bioluminescent organs that flicker for a minute or more.
The magnitude of the phenomenon was photographed by William Ho in the resort of Dusit Thani.
The organisms are stimulated by wave movement or the pressure of footsteps on the sand.
By way of comparison, the glow emitted by phytoplankton is of the order of a second. And they are usually observed by stirring the seawater.
Bioluminescence occurs when millions of organisms accumulate along a beach.
Interviewed by the Huffington Post, biologist James Morin from Cornell University explains that these are not phytoplankton, as you might expect, but tiny crustaceans known as ostracods.
Some of these ostracods have bioluminescent organs that flicker for a minute or more.
The magnitude of the phenomenon was photographed by William Ho in the resort of Dusit Thani.
The organisms are stimulated by wave movement or the pressure of footsteps on the sand.
By way of comparison, the glow emitted by phytoplankton is of the order of a second. And they are usually observed by stirring the seawater.
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