Sea foam (illustration) - imageBROKER.com/Michael Narten / SIPA

Astonishing spectacle on the beach of Banyuls-sur-Mer, this Tuesday, in the Pyrénées-Orientales. While the Catalan department, placed on alert by Météo France, is facing significant precipitation, a consequence of the Gloria storm, a thick foam has formed on the coast. It is sea foam.

Unusual image of this sea foam that invades the coastline in Banyuls-sur-Mer! #tempetegloria #tempete #gloria @BFMTV pic.twitter.com/TNSiR0EWy7

- David Unal (@david_unal) January 21, 2020

Foam at #banyuls #pyreneesorientales #LlevantadaGloria 📷Vero Lopez via fb group J'aime Banyuls Sur Mer pic.twitter.com/u6QEBFHimP

- Pyrenees Weather (@Meteo_Pyrenees) January 21, 2020

#Banuyls The foam has invaded the forehead of #mer. A show that delights walkers and children #tempetegloria pic.twitter.com/x020DO03I0

- viàOccitanie (@viaOccitanieTV) January 21, 2020

But how does this funny phenomenon form? “It is organic matter, mainly produced by phytoplankton and algae, which is resuspended by the wind. This causes an emulsion, with the mixing of the water, which creates the foam, ”confides to 20 Minutes Fabien Joux, director of the microbial oceanography laboratory in Banyuls-sur-mer. A natural phenomenon which is not so rare.

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