Here’s why Visakhapatnam beaches are glowing a shimmering blue
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Visakhapatnam beaches are glowing due to a phenomenon called bioluminescence. We speak to marine biologists to understand this spectacle

April 13, 2023 02:53 pm | Updated 07:53 pm IST

A stretch of beach at Bhimli near Visakhapatnam glowing due to a unique natural phenomenon called bioluminescence. Bioluminescence occurs due to the presence of some marine planktons called dinoflagellates that produce light when the water is disturbed. It is being reported during the night hours on larger stretches of Visakhapatnam beach for the first time .

A stretch of beach at Bhimli near Visakhapatnam glowing due to a unique natural phenomenon called bioluminescence. Bioluminescence occurs due to the presence of some marine planktons called dinoflagellates that produce light when the water is disturbed. It is being reported during the night hours on larger stretches of Visakhapatnam beach for the first time . | Photo Credit: KR Deepak

On a moonless night earlier this week, a group of MTech students noticed something unusual while riding along the coast of Visakhapatnam. They saw waves of blue light ebb and flow by the shore. With every wave that kissed the shore, the waters turned a shimmering neon blue like a magic guarding the secrets of the mysterious marine world.

The images and videos went viral after they were shared on social media by Visakhapatnam-based blogger Sai Kiran Suri, popularly known as Vizag Weatherman. The phenomenon, visible at night, has been attracting visitors to the beaches along Visakhapatnam, including photographers, marine researchers and nature enthusiasts. This was more pronounced in longer patches along the shore at Bhimli, about 45 kilometres from Visakhapatnam.

So what exactly is this phenomenon? Known as bioluminescence, the glow of the waves is caused by tiny marine organisms called phytoplankton, which emit light on the ocean surface at night. It is best experienced during a moonless night.

A stretch of beach at Bhimli near Visakhapatnam glowing due to a natural phenomenon called bioluminescence. Bioluminescence occurs due to the presence of some marine planktons called dinoflagellates that produce light when the water is disturbed.

A stretch of beach at Bhimli near Visakhapatnam glowing due to a natural phenomenon called bioluminescence. Bioluminescence occurs due to the presence of some marine planktons called dinoflagellates that produce light when the water is disturbed. | Photo Credit: KR Deepak

“Bioluminescent is widespread among deep sea animals in general. Many marine creatures like sponges, jellyfish, worms, species of fish, anthropods, echinoderms and unicellular alga exhibit bioluminescence to either evade predators, attract prey or during mating. In Visakhapanam, this phenomenon is most likely the result of an algal bloom (significant accumulation) of the dinoflagellate species of noctiluca and ceratium. These emit light when disturbed by breaking waves,” says M Ram Murthy, a marine biologist. This occurs when the luciferase enzyme reacts with luciferin compound in the presence of oxygen to produce a cold light.

Also Read |Bioluminescent nights in Kerala’s Kumbalangi

“Bioluminescence is widespread in lagoons and sometimes breakwaters and is particularly visible during warm weather conditions. The dinoflagellates follow a circadian cycle (24-hour cycle) and as a result this phenomenon occurs during the night which is visible in low light conditions,” says Vinod Malayilethu, associate director, marine conservation programme, WWF-India. This unique phenomenon has been visible in some other beaches in India including Havelock Island in the Andamans, Thiruvanmiyur beach in Chennai, Mattu beach in Karnataka and Bangaram Island in Lakshadweep.

People trying to capture bioluminescence near Sagarnagar in Visakhapatnam. Bioluminescence occurs due to the presence of some marine planktons called dinoflagellates that produce light when the water is disturbed. It is being reported during the night hours on larger stretches of Visakhapatnam beach for the first time.

People trying to capture bioluminescence near Sagarnagar in Visakhapatnam. Bioluminescence occurs due to the presence of some marine planktons called dinoflagellates that produce light when the water is disturbed. It is being reported during the night hours on larger stretches of Visakhapatnam beach for the first time. | Photo Credit: KR Deepak

According to Ram Murthy, bioluminescence is not new to Visakhapatnam and has occurred on several occasions in the past. “It was observed in small patches near Tenneti Park as well. However, what makes the recent experience different is the scale, making it a visual spectacle,” he adds.

While phytoplankton blooms that results in bioluminescence are not rare and are widely reported across coasts worldwide and in India, marine biologists say that it is a likely indication of environmental changes in seawater in the region of its occurrence. “It may not be harmful to humans. But any kind of algal bloom can affect the marine ecosystem as phytoplanktons are consumed by fish,” says Vinod and adds: “In Kerala’s Kumbalangi, the toxic red tides reported in the past were a result of harmful algal blooms and caused mass mortality of fish species. The impact of these noctiluca blooms off Visakhapatnam coast on marine species is less reported and explored and needs to be studied.”

According to Ram Murthy, a possible reason behind a rapid algal growth of noctiluca in Visakhapatnam coast could be due to environmental changes like sudden low salinity or disturbance by pollutants.

A stretch of beach at Bhimli near Visakhapatnam glowing due to a unique natural phenomenon called bioluminescence. Bioluminescence occurs due to the presence of some marine planktons called dinoflagellates that produce light when the water is disturbed.

A stretch of beach at Bhimli near Visakhapatnam glowing due to a unique natural phenomenon called bioluminescence. Bioluminescence occurs due to the presence of some marine planktons called dinoflagellates that produce light when the water is disturbed. | Photo Credit: KR Deepak

In Visakhapatnam, the phenomenon has been spotted over the past six to seven days, but experts say the timing window can be somewhat uncertain and these events can last anywhere from one week to a month or even more.

These spectacular masses of noctiluca has been drawing many photographers who are trying their best to capture it. But this stunning show of Nature is not easy to photograph.

“Focusing is a challenge in low light conditions. A D-SLR and a tripod are a must to get good images. I kept my camera on manual focusing mode, enhanced the aperture to the maximum with high ISO. The bioluminiscence became a lot more prominent post midnight as the lights faded and could be seen like blue dots glimmering in patches even along the sea at Thotlakonda,” says Suresh Gorantla, a dentist and photographer, who visited the spots to document the spectacle. In the case of dense and widespread blooms such as in Bhimli, a phone camera can produce decent images.

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