Teh One Who Knocks
01-02-2012, 04:11 PM
Blackpool residents have been left baffled by a mysterious foamy substance which has blown in from the sea, carpeting a number of roads.
By John McDonnell - Metro News
http://i.imgur.com/1aOxB.jpg
The foam is piled several feet high in areas closest to the sea, making driving conditions particularly treacherous.
Locals have expressed worries that the phenomenon is caused by polluting detergents, and said it is forcing people to stay at home.
But environmental experts have allayed their fears and suggested the foam could be the result of waves churning decomposing algal matter.
An Environment Agency spokesperson said: 'We have taken samples of the foam as obviously if this is caused by any kind of polluting material, we need to know about it.
'Early samples are not showing any trace of detergent so we think it could be the combination of decomposing algal matter churned with the tide and the westerly wind which is causing the foam.
It is not the first time the area has been awash with the foam, which came in from the sea like a snow blizzard following recent winds of up to 90mph.
'We know it happens occasionally and can disappear again quite quickly so we will be looking further into what triggers it,' said the spokesperson.
By John McDonnell - Metro News
http://i.imgur.com/1aOxB.jpg
The foam is piled several feet high in areas closest to the sea, making driving conditions particularly treacherous.
Locals have expressed worries that the phenomenon is caused by polluting detergents, and said it is forcing people to stay at home.
But environmental experts have allayed their fears and suggested the foam could be the result of waves churning decomposing algal matter.
An Environment Agency spokesperson said: 'We have taken samples of the foam as obviously if this is caused by any kind of polluting material, we need to know about it.
'Early samples are not showing any trace of detergent so we think it could be the combination of decomposing algal matter churned with the tide and the westerly wind which is causing the foam.
It is not the first time the area has been awash with the foam, which came in from the sea like a snow blizzard following recent winds of up to 90mph.
'We know it happens occasionally and can disappear again quite quickly so we will be looking further into what triggers it,' said the spokesperson.