Algae have appeared this summer in the sea and on the coast of Norway from Ytre Oslofjord in the south to Øygarden in the north. During the day, deposits are visible as discolored water in fjords, bays and oceans. Some called it “choco-water”.
In the dark, algae shows itself from a completely different side and is the origin of the phenomenon
Can glow in the dark
– It makes for a wonderful sight. As you wander this mossy beach, you may see flashes of light. This is a special event. Marine researcher Lars-Johan Nastvoll from the Institute of Marine Research tells Netavisen that if you see this algae red on the beach during the day, look for the same spot in the evening and bring a stick or something else to stir the water. About the moribund alga with the Latin name Noctiluca scintillans.
Unusual algal blooms
Marine Research Institute Many observations were made this summer, and unusually many in western Norway were not frequent guests of this alga. Nastvoll claims to have seen it himself in Arendal 14 days ago, while the latest sightings were reported on Tuesday this week, and came from Sunheartland and Rogaland, particularly Pomlo, Oigarden and Karmoi.
— It is common to see rust-red in the water in bays and inlets from the Swedish border to Aktor in autumn. “Now we have observations all the way from Oslofjord to Oigarden, which is extraordinary,” says Nastvoll.
Large flowers, not common in western Norway this year. According to algae experts, years pass every time you see “choco-water”.
“Sjoko water”, Noctiluca scintillans
A type of plankton in the category Furoflagellates. Noctiluca can emit light in the dark and create wildfires. Also known as “morilled algae”.
Noctiluca scintillans are 0.2 to 2 mm in size and have a large vacuole, a fluid-filled space rich in ammonium ions that provide buoyancy, allowing the cells to collect at the sea surface.
Air and ocean currents can cause orange foam, red flakes in bays, or red streaks of algae in the ocean. Some refer to this phenomenon as “choco-water”.
Noctiluca scintillans is a harmless species to humans – and most are. It does not produce any toxins and is not dangerous to touch or swim in the water.
Under certain conditions, algae can damage other organisms around it, such as shells, when they die and break down, but such situations are rare.
Most blooms of this algae are diluted in water bodies before dying.
Plankton is divided into two main groups: phytoplankton (also known as plankton, planktonic algae, and mossy plankton) and zooplankton (also known as zooplankton).
There are an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 species of phytoplankton in the world's oceans.
Phytoplankton is an absolutely necessary part of the food chain in the ocean, the basis of life.
proof's: The Great Norwegian Encyclopedia And Marine Research Institute
Harmless to humans
– People called the fire service and told about pollution, but algae is a harmless species for humans – and most people. It doesn't produce any toxins, and you can touch the water and swim in it without danger, and it glows at night.
Algae are transported by water masses and wind and usually appear in bays facing the direction of the wind.
Algae can damage other organisms around it when it accumulates and dies in bays.
– This can lead to a loss of oxygen in the water column, and is not good for the sessile animals that live in the water there. This can lead to damage to beach crabs and shells, but this is rare, Naustvoll explains.
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Blooms from 1-2 weeks
The usual thing is that this moss comes and goes, and blooms usually last a week or two. Now it is rare on the Skagerrak coast, while it can still be found in parts of Rogaland and in old Hordaland north of Bergen, the researcher says.
His advice is to look for the phenomenon and enjoy it when it appears.
– There are videos of people rowing boats in the ocean with this algae and you see it glow or it drips blue light from the fins as you chase it through the water in the dark.
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