5/17/2023 0 Comments Whitecap beach weatherFoam bubbles can be coated with or contain these materials which can include petroleum compounds, pesticides, and herbicides. Though foam is not inherently toxic, it may contain high concentrations of contaminants. There is also seasonal variability of sea foam composition in some regions there is a seasonal occurrence of pollen in sea foam which can alter its chemistry. One study found that 95% of sea foam bacteria were rod-shaped, while the surrounding surface water contained mostly coccoid-form bacteria and only 5% - 10% rod-shaped bacteria. A diversity of bacteria is also present in sea foam old foam tends to have a higher density of bacteria. Some research has shown very high concentrations of microplankton in sea foam, with significantly higher numbers of autotrophic phytoplankton than heterotrophs Some foams are particularly rich in their diatom population which can make up the majority of the microalgal biomass in some cases. The organic matter in sea foam has been found to increase dramatically during phytoplankton blooms in the area. In the Bay of Fundy, high mortality rates of an abundant tube-dwelling amphipod ( Corophium volutator) by natural die-offs as well as predation by migrating seabirds contributed to amino sugars released in the surrounding environment and thus, in sea foam. Additional research has shown that a small fraction of the dry weight in sea foam is organic carbon, which contains phenolics, sugars, amino sugars, and amino acids. The high protein and low carbohydrate concentration suggest that sugars originally present in the surrounding mucilage created by algae or plant matter has been quickly consumed by bacteria. In some areas, sea foam is found to be made up of primarily protein, dominant in both fresh and old foam, as well as lipids and carbohydrates. The composition of sea foam is generally a mixture of decomposed organic materials, including zooplankton, phytoplankton, algae (including diatoms ), bacteria, fungi, protozoans, and vascular plant detritus, though each occurrence of sea foam varies in its specific contents. Sea foam usually contains a mixture of decomposed organic materials Turbulence in the surface mixed layer can affect the concentration of dissolved organic matter and aids in the formation of nutrient-dense foam. There have been some non-mechanistic studies demonstrating increased sea foam formation due to high rainfall events. ![]() įalling rain drops on the sea surface can also contribute to sea foam formation and destruction. Some studies on sea foam report that breaking of algal cells in times of heavy swells makes sea foam production more likely. Presence of dissolved organic matter stabilizes the bubbles, aggregating together as sea foam. As they rise, these bubbles accumulate hydrophobic substances. The bubbles that do not dissolve eventually make it back to the surface. The smallest bubbles entrained in the water column dissolve entirely, leading to higher ratios of dissolved gases in the surface ocean. These bubbles get transported around the top few meters of the surface ocean due to their buoyancy. Breaking of surface waves injects air from the atmosphere into the water column, leading to bubble creation. The physical processes that contribute to sea foam formation are breaking surface waves, bubble entrainment, and whitecap formation. The dark orange line indicates processes common to the formation of both sea spray and sea foam. ![]() Ĭonnection between sea foam and sea spray formation. The dissolved organic matter in the surface water, which can be derived from the natural environment or human-made sources, provides stability to the resulting sea foam. One of the main distinctions from sea spray formation is the presence of higher concentrations of dissolved organic matter from macrophytes and phytoplankton. Sea foam is formed under conditions that are similar to the formation of sea spray. Human activities, such as production, transport or spillage of petroleum products or detergents, can also contribute to the formation of sea foam. Due to its low density and persistence, foam can be blown by strong on-shore winds from the beach face inland. Sea foam is a global phenomenon, and it varies depending on location and the potential influence of the surrounding marine, freshwater, and/or terrestrial environments. As the seawater is churned by breaking waves in the surf zone adjacent to the shore, the surfactants under these turbulent conditions trap air, forming persistent bubbles that stick to each other through surface tension. These compounds can act as surfactants or foaming agents. ![]() Sea foam, ocean foam, beach foam, or spume is a type of foam created by the agitation of seawater, particularly when it contains higher concentrations of dissolved organic matter (including proteins, lignins, and lipids) derived from sources such as the offshore breakdown of algal blooms.
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