What’s Happening Along The Jersey Shore This Summer Will Take Your Breath Away

The Jersey Shore is always a beautiful place, but it currently looks like a tropical paradise. Starting around Long Beach Island and intensifying further south, a rare natural phenomenon is turning our shores stunning shades of teal and turquoise. New Jersey beaches are beginning to look a lot like the Caribbean thanks to a harmless plankton bloom.

NASA image by Jeff Schmaltz, LANCE/EOSDIS Rapid Response. Caption by Kathryn Hansen.

Phytoplankton is a microscopic plant rich in chlorophyll. New Jersey's recent phytoplankton bloom was caused by upwelling - cold water moving to the surface.

Flickr/New Jersey National Guard

Not only is the hue more vibrant, the water is clearer than normal due to a lack of significant rainfall. Less river runoff means cleaner, crisper ocean water.

Flickr/James Loesch

Crystal clear turquoise tinted water along the Jersey Shore is a rarity, so now is the time to go. Wind and weather conditions can diminish the bloom, so head south as soon as you can.

For more on this phenomenon along our coast, enjoy this video from Fox 29 featuring spectacular shoreline footage.

Have you been to the Jersey Shore this summer? Did you witness the stunning blue waters? Share your photos on the Only In New Jersey Facebook Page for a chance to be featured and learn about another beautiful place in New Jersey here.