FOX 11 – Los Angeles
By Alexa Mae Asperin
Published September 7, 2023 11:20AM Updated 3:39PM
ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. – The red tide has returned, and you know what that means – bioluminescent waves are lighting up the Southern California coast.
Known scientifically as “lingulodinium polydra,” the bioluminescent algae was first spotted in San Diego and is slowly making its way up, most recently reaching parts of Orange County this week.
The phenomenon associated with the red tide – or algae bloom – is filled with dinoflagellates, which then react when moved around by the water. During the daytime, the water may be a deep red, brown, or orange color due to the pigmentation. At night is when the water turns what many describe as “electric blue.”