SEAFOAM: An unexpected hazard A DUTCH NATURE PHENOMENON

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A few weeks ago I wrote a blog about my team girlfriend that lost her son. he died in the sea of Scheveningen. He died in a unexpected nature hazard.

https://peakd.com/hive-114105/@brittandjosie/my-friend-lost-het-23year-old-son-4-weeks-after-he-went-missing-he-is-now-burried-in-the-cemetery

Last month a sudden and tragic event involving an extreme case of sea foam shocked the Dutch surf community and claimed the lives of five surfers. And hit us hard because most of us also have a relation to one of the 5 boys who died. In response to this event, experts at Surfrider Europe had a closer look at sea foam also known as “spume”. That was the possible reason for the tragic accident. What are the health risks today? and does that Cappucino Coast as most call it when its vivisble on the sea and the beach need to be monitored as a hazard for beach guests.
Although the event in the Netherlands caught the surf community by surprise, heavy foam occurrences like this are not a new phenomenon. In many parts of the globe including coastal stretches of the U.S., Scotland, and Eastern Australia, sea foam or ‘spume’ has been documented completely covering city streets in some bizarre videos online after heavy storms, an event characterized by the term “Cappuccino Coast.” Instances of foam have also been found around lakes and rivers.


Source: the souffle

Foam science, its a weird thing. Surfrider’s beachapedia explains that sea foam is created when wind or waves stir up seawater that contains high concentrations of dissolved organic matter (proteins, fats, dead algae). In an environment like a surf zone close where waves break regularly, these substances act as foaming agents, trapping air under turbulent conditions and forming persistent bubbles which stick to each other through surface tension. Due to its low density and persistence, foam can be blown by strong onshore winds from nearshore waters onto the beach. Algal blooms are a common source of thick sea foams due to the large amount of dissolved organic matter. The nutrient matter found in algal blooms is usually from fertilizer and animal agriculture runoff. The presence of this matter, combined with an abundance of sunlight and high wind, can create extreme foam conditions. Sea foam can hold algal toxins or surface-active pollutants in its bubbles which release into the air and may cause irritation to eyes or pose a health risk for those with pre-existing respiratory health conditions. While there is no scientific evidence to suggest that sea foam increases a risk of drowning, one resource suggests that foam can become so thick, that in some extreme cases it poses an additional risk to children.

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Early this month, the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) released a report stating that: “The metres high seafoam during the fatal accident involving five surfers on 11 May in Scheveningen most probably arose due to an exceptional combination of many algal remains and, for this time of the year, an unusually strong north-northeasterly wind ... At present, the scientists advise providing information and training to lifeguards and people who practise water sports, because the development of a sufficiently automated warning system will take more time.”

What do we know about the type of foam?
Scientists at NIOZ tested foam samples collected on the day of the event and found large Phaeocystis Globose algae colony remains in high amounts never before recorded. The week before the incident was very sunny, providing the algae with a perfect environment to flourish. On May 10th, heavy clouds blew in which caused the algae colonies to die off and release their protein to create extreme amounts of foam.
Looking back into their database of satellite images and weather patterns, NIOZ found that the conditions for high foam events occur annually between April and May. From this study, we can conclude that ocean users in this area of the Netherlands should take special care in Spring while there are strong onshore winds.
What we don’t know about Phaeocystis Globose?
Increased preventative measures over the past several years have led to a decrease in algal blooms caused by nutrient runoff reaching the North Sea. However, according to NIOZ, the Phaeocystis Globose algae has defied this trend and remains extremely present in large colonies. Does the Phaeocystis Globose feed on other nutrients that we are not yet aware of? Was this unprecedented bloom an isolated incident or can we expect more events like these in the future? Research on Phaeocystis Globose and their part in the foam event, and predictability of future events is still ongoing. In addition, it still has not been officially confirmed how the foam played a role in the five casualties in the Netherlands. Both of these uncertainties will be monitored by Surfrider Europe, and updated in this article as soon as we have it.
In small amounts, seafoam should not pose any danger to ocean users. However, this horrible loss reminds us that there are no rules in nature and abnormalities can occur at any time. Always check your local water quality, currents and other hazards before entering the ocean and be especially vigilant of high sea foam events during Spring season. To help reduce nutrient runoff and preserve water quality in your local area, please have a look at our Ocean Friendly Garden project.

I said it in the blog before and I want to leave with the poem is wrote a card with a white surfboard.

The sea tells all

The beach is mystical
Waves wash gently
You left in a moment

the sea of ​​peace
Spheres that guide the inner
Wave currents that skim
Crowds are taken from you here

Shells spread out in front of your feet
Seaweed on the coastal strip you encounter
Dune belts on the edge
You peer towards eternity

Fishing vessels and gulls are your world now
Sea air makes you eternal
A board remains
When the day leaves us

XX

As from now the Netherland beaches and especially the beach of Scheveningen will be alarmed when the foams is there and the weather and wind is involved.

Thanks for stopping by, its appreciated and remember focus on being creative instead of being bee-zy.
Consistent Actions Create Consistent Results.
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(c) All images and photographs, unless otherwise specified, are created and owned by me. @brittandjosie originals. Sources used : Mine and with others its mentioned in my blog. I only use a canon camera and my iPhone.

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Date : 26 june 2020



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Dear @ctime this is the proof why 5 men lost their life and you are downvoting this?

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@brittandjosie

Thank you for your post. I can attest to the hazards of seafoam in my career. However, the hazard to me is certainly different than what you experience. I work at power plant facilities that process huge amounts of water for purification and heat transfer purposes. I see seafoam generation any time I approach the power plant discharge ports. No one is allowed into those areas while the power plant is operating.

In your part of the world, your post speaks of the unpredictability of seafoam generation. It makes sense and it's definitely easier to succumb to the hazards of seafoam than just regular water. We're designed to reject excessive amounts of water we're exposed to in the attempts to avoid drowning. I don't know there is anything humanity can do to prevent the danger aside from just leaving when these events occur.

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They were surprised by it and they were lifeguards all 5 of them but the foam was 2 meter high so breathing wasn't possible anymore. Tragic and a sign that sea is a beautiful monster

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I lived in Santa Cruz California for almost 25 years and I've never even heard of this phenomenon. Amazing.
My condolences to all who were affected though, as, yeah, that's sort of unexpected.
Yeah, a downvote bot to downvote bots amazingly unbelievable, yes?

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I hadn't either but it's a killing field when the factors of nature want it to be

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The occurrence you describe is indeed unusual in how it's formed. Nature was so many occurrences we can't even begin to understand. Thanks for sharing the official news of what happened to cause this devasting loss of the lives of those 5 young men.

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Yes awful but the fact that the reason fro their death is here now allows the parents and friends to Greef and find a place for that hole in their harts
Thanks for the sweet words

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An amazing phenomenon but dangerous. I don't think we have that kind of phenomenon here in the Philippines. Looks fun to play in the foam though.

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Ohhh. Such a pity. I never knew such a thing happened him.

May he rest in peace. My deepest condolences to his parents.

Little things like this that happens just threatens the life of many. I'm really sorry to about his death.

❤️❤️❤️
Beckie

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