Sea Foam, Ocean foam, Beach foam, or Spume, is a type of foam produced by the agitation of seawater, especially with high concentrations of dissolved organic matter proteins, lignin, lipids, and other organic and inorganic material from sources such as ocean decomposition. How long does Sea Foam Last?
Structurally, Sea Foam is unstable in the environment & persists depending on which type-there are two types of Sea Foam categorized based on their stability:
- Unstable or transient foams have very short lifetimes of only seconds
- Metastable foams can have a lifetime of several hours to several days
Ocean Foam or Sea Foam is a naturally-occurring phenomenon on any type of body of water, especially the ocean where it’s abundant. This natural worldwide event is often the result of natural processes, not environmental pollution.
How Long Does Sea Foam Last
When aquatic ocean life dies, organic matter breaks down, and a substantial amount of particulate organic carbon is released into the ocean mixed with some inorganic material and man-made pollution that is added from nearby populated coastal communities. This is the beginning of what’s known as Sea Foam.
If you scoop up some saltwater from the ocean in a clear glass and look at it closely, you’ll see that it’s full of tiny particles. Seawater contains dissolved salts, proteins, fats, dead algae, detergents, other pollutants, and a bunch of other bits and pieces some organic and artificial matter. If you shake this glass of seawater water vigorously, small bubbles will quickly form on the surface of the seawater in the glass.
Sea Foam starts in this way but on a much larger scale when the ocean is agitated by wind and ocean waves. Each coastal region has separate conditions creating the formation of sea foaming.
Structurally, Sea Foam is unstable, especially in heat and temperatures although some sea foam can persist in the environment for a couple of days at most. There are two types of Sea Foam categorized based on their stability:
- Unstable or transient foams have very short lifetimes of only seconds it’s bubbles formed in sea foam may burst releasing aerosols into the air and contributing to sea spray.
- Metastable foams can have a lifetime of several hours to several days its duration can be attributed to tiny particles of silica, calcium, or iron that contribute to foam stability and longevity.
The presence of Sea Foam in marine(Ocean) environments plays many ecological roles, such as providing food sources and creating habitats. Sea Foam with a stable composition is more ecologically important as it can persist longer as a food source and transport nutrients within the marine environment. Longer decay times increase the likelihood that the energy contained in sea foam will move up the food web to higher trophic levels.
Is Sea Foam Good for the Environment?
Yes, Sea Foam can play a number of ecological roles & can actually show a natural & healthy marine environment by acting
As a habitat for organisms
As a food source for aquatic plants
As a mode of transport for both organisms & nutrients within the ocean environment and into the coastal environments .……………………………. Read more
Sea foam forms under conditions similar to the formation of ocean spray. One of the major differences between wave spray formation and Sea Foam is the presence of high concentrations of dissolved organic matter from macrophytes and phytoplankton.
It’s the concentration of dissolved organic matter in surface waters, either natural or anthropogenic, that provides stability to the sea foam that is produced.
Sea Foam or Ocean Foam is a global phenomenon containing dissolved organic & inorganic proteins, fats, dead algae, detergents, & other pollutants, that act as a surfactant, or foaming agent, which, combined with the pounding of ocean waves, results in large buildups of foam …………………………………………… Read more
JimGalloway Author/Editor
