The Plum Island marsh is starting to look bland and absent of ice; spring is on it's way! Soon enough we will get to see a lot of phragmites and all sorts of other wildlife!
With a little bit of research, I found a little bit of information which seemed like a valid explanation of this "foam". I also learned that the foam is not necessarily from pollution.
"Lakes and streams are surrounded by living organisms, and many organisms live within the water itself. Both plants and animals produce lipids like simple fats — three fatty acids combined with a glycerol molecule. When any of these organisms die, they release fats, proteins, sugars and other molecules into the water. Nonpolar molecules like lipids float since they have a lower specific gravity than water and will not mix with water. As fats and other lipids break down, the released fatty acids also float to the surface. Thus, the surface of the water often has a thin, completely transparent layer of lipids on it. Through reactions similar to those used to make soap, the resulting molecules change the surface tension and, just like soap, they cause bubbles to form."
The quote above was taken from an article, if you would like to read more about this surface foam, here is the link.
http://redoubtreporter.wordpress.com/2009/07/15/science-of-the-seasons-bubbling-curiosity-%E2%80%94-most-water-foam-is-no-cause-for-concern/
Ideally, share info like this (which is quite good) in your own words so I know you really get it. A bit of direct quoting is fine, but for the most part, should be limited to a line or two, and then only if the language is so poetic you couldn't possibly put it in your own words. In this case, it's basic factual info, so best to explain it to us in your own voice.
ReplyDeleteI've never actually known what the hell that stuff was either, good to know its not from pollution though. It's pretty gnarly it's a bunch of dead organisms sugars and fats. weirrdddd
ReplyDeleteI have never known what that foam is either. I was always too afraid to find out, because I assumed it was something negative, such as pollution. It is interesting information, now that I have learned about it.
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