Red algae bloom?

Question

I was riding on a plane about 2 weeks ago, passing by georgia and florida (over the ocean) and looking out the window, i noticed a big red tear shaped splotch in the ocean and a few smaller ones. Could these be red algae blooms? I can't figure out what they were--I'm sure they weren't boats. What else could they have been?

Answer 1

You got to see a dramatic example of "red tide," caused by an over population of alga called a dinoflagellate!  In high concentrations, red tide causes massive fish kills.  One year, a person could walk from high tide line to the water and not touch sand.  You would be walking on a continuous layer of dead fish!

Red tide has been known to cause breathing problems in people exposed to the mist blowing in from the ocean.  

Here is an URL for a FAQ about red tides:  http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/landwater/wa...

Answer 2

some times when sea weed gets too much sun the top side of the leaf will turn reddish and from the air can resemble algae