10/16/2021
What is sea foam?
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), sea foam forms when dissolved organic matter in the ocean is churned up. If you scoop up some water from the ocean in a clear glass and look at it closely, you'll see that it's chock full of tiny particles. Seawater contains dissolved salts, proteins, fats, dead algae, detergents and other pollutants, and a bunch of other bits and pieces of organic and artificial matter. If you shake this glass of ocean water vigorously, small bubbles will form on the surface of the liquid.
Sea foam forms in this way - but on a much grander scale - when the ocean is agitated by wind and waves. Most sea foam on our Seashore is not harmful to humans and is often an indication of a productive ocean ecosystem.
NPS photo by K. Moses taken on Cape Hatteras National Seashore
