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+--- Thread: Swimming with Dinoflagellates in Puna (/showthread.php?tid=16403)
Swimming with Dinoflagellates in Puna - Ino - 09-15-2015
Swimming with Dinoflagellates in Puna;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinoflagellate
These tiny animals are kinda of like a marine firefly. They use Bioluminescence to light up their predators (they think you’re a predator) to attract bigger predators to attack their attackers.
They usually peak this time of year. They thrive in calm warm water. They recently almost disappeared with all the hurricane/storm wave energy but have started to reappear with the decrease in wave energy. The calmer the water the more you'll see.
To see these animals you need a moonless night with no man made lights too close. I was swimming at Kehena Beach the other night and they were out in force. If you agitate the water they roll like sparks off your fingers or stick close to your body. I have observed these animals in Baja and Costa Rica and when locals see them for the first time they are truly amazed! It is quite the spectacle to see and this year is a banner year due to El Nino.
Taking advantage of a good break in the weather with better conditions, I’m leading a group this Thurs. night, meeting about 6:30-7 pm at Kehena Beach if you want to join us. If night swimming is not for you , you can also see them by kayak.
In weather news, remnant moisture from former hurricane Jimena is about to end the Pac. NW’s fire season and their Summer today and tomorrow.. As Jimena’s moisture got pulled up North by the massive upper level Low to the West of Hawaii, it got caught up in the flow around the North Pacific summertime High pressure system.
A very cold air mass for this time of year has moved South over the NE Bay of Alaska. This movement was in response to Ignacio and shunted Ignascio to the SE. Phasing with the tropical moisture this event couldn’t come at a better time for firefighters in Pac. NW and Northern Calif.. This storm will bring wetting rains as far South as the top half of Calif. Really helping the firefighters but not ending the fire season yet in Calif. not quite enough rain but it will bring the first snows above 7,000'
Interestingly enough some of the remains of Jimena will get caught up in the trade wind flow and come back and hang out just N/NE of Hawaii late this weekend and early next week. What goes around often comes back around!
RE: Swimming with Dinoflagellates in Puna - bananahead - 09-15-2015
aka phytoplankton ... its the glowing flashes you see when you walk Hawaiian (and other places) beaches at night and kick the wet shore sand or kick/splash the shore break, they glow... very cool, best place Ive seen it is at 'Big Beach' side of Makena Beach Maui...
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/03/pictures/120319-glowing-waves-ocean-blue-bioluminescent-plankton-science/
aloha
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save our indigenous and endemic Hawaiian Plants... learn about them, grow them, and plant them on your property, ....instead of all that invasive non-native garbage I see in most yards... aloha
RE: Swimming with Dinoflagellates in Puna - rainyjim - 09-15-2015
I've swam with them just off coconut island in Hilo Bay before, next to the rock pillar where people jump off.
RE: Swimming with Dinoflagellates in Puna - 1voyager1 - 09-16-2015
Many years ago, I would encounter them often in Puget Sound.
When crossing the sound by ferry at night, you could see the paths of fish running from the ferry as it sped across the surface.
But, most delightful was encountering them while on night dives.
Hadn't thought about them in many a year now.
Thanks for jogging my memory.