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Murky Waters Around British Coastline Are Turning Tropical During Lockdown
While the novel coronavirus is ravaging the globe and people are locking themselves up at home to avoid getting infected, the world seems to be doing just fine without us. We have seen news from all over the world about animals invading cities and claiming them for themselves as people empty from the streets, witnessed water in Venice go crystal clear and welcome some of the wildlife back to its canals, and many more examples of nature thriving.
This time, it’s the Brits throwing some good news at us. Even though they are usually not the ones to brag about their sunny weather and tropical coastline, it seems the lockdown has done some good to their coastline near Portsmouth.
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Incredible drone photos show a tropical-looking British coastline
Image credits: Solent News/Solent Sky
Even though most people would never expect tropical-looking pictures of the seaside to be coming from the Brits, they did manage to surprise us this time. Mike Woods took these incredible pictures by flying a drone over Portsmouth. He was amazed to see usually murky waters azure blue and crystal clear.
The photos of azure blue waters were taking by flying a drone over Portsmouth
Image credits: Solent News/Solent Sky
Some people believe the sea around Portsmouth has cleared up due to decreased pollution levels during the coronavirus lockdown. It’s not necessarily the case, but the locals are happy about this change despite the possibility of it being temporary.
The usually murky waters have most likely cleared up because of a decrease in pollution
Image credits: Solent News/Solent Sky
It could be pretty accurate, since the color of the sea depends largely on how many particles are in the water, so the more it is affected by car pollution, boat traffic, and other human activity, the more particles get into the water and change its hue, making it appear darker and murkier.
Pollution levels have dropped significantly in the UK due to the coronavirus lockdown
Image credits: Solent News/Solent Sky
Mike Woods, who took these aerial shots of azure blue seas near Portsmouth, said: “There has been a lot of talk about the color of the water in the area recently and I think the perception is, nature is thriving.”
“It’s phenomenal. We’ve never, ever seen the water look this clear before, it’s lovely,” said Mike Woods, who took these photos
Image credits: Solent News/Solent Sky
“It’s beautiful to see it and it looks like you are in a different country down there, it really does. It’s phenomenal,” he added. We’ve never, ever seen the water look this clear before, it’s lovely.”
However, the water could just appear cleaner with fewer people and boat traffic to disturb its stillness
Image credits: Solent News/Solent Sky
Looking at the prospects of keeping the British coastline as tropical as it looks now, it would seem people should just leave it alone for good, not only during the lockdown, as scientists explain that murky waters are caused by the concentration of particles in them.
These Google Earth images showcase how the British coastline looked before the lockdown
Image credits: Google Earth
Despite the good news about the tropical-looking British coastline, waters of Venice clearing up, and even the ozone layer fixing itself, assuming that all the environmental problems of the world will fix themselves within a couple of weeks of human inactivity and will stay fixed is a little bit over-optimistic. It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t enjoy it while we can, though!
The murkiness was most likely caused by car pollution, water traffic, and human activity
Image credits: Google Earth
Here’s how people responded to the photos
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What do you think ?
PjandBolt 5 years ago
I forget who says this, but it's a powerful quote. "If you remove animals from the planet, it would die. But if you remove humans from the planet, it would flourish."
T Simmons 5 years ago
This is nothing to do with pollution but weather and ocean currents. The water frequently changes from cloudy to clear along the coast. Huge leaps in conclusions. Poor.
Cathelijne van Weelden 5 years ago
I think so too, we have areas in the Netherlands at the coast where waters can be crystal clear. And there are areas which are always murky due to currents, algea, mud... Even though water quality is high.
Load More Replies...
Mechelle Cantrell Dyer 5 years ago
I'd like to know exactly when those photos were taken. I'm not debating that things have possibly gotten better, but the end of the pier in the "before" picture is destroyed....so how long ago was that really taken. I'm all for doing what we can to help combat pollution. I'm NOT for putting forth questionable data.
Jeeves Williams 5 years ago
It’s not destroyed — it’s dodgy 3D mapping by Google Earth. You’ll occasionally see 3D renders appear distorted on Google Maps and Apple Maps. The pier hasn’t been destroyed for decades.
Load More Replies...
Billy Brison 5 years ago
I actually live in this city and it's a very rare site for us to see the waters this calm and clear. We're a very busy port city with connections directly to Europe so the sea traffic is continuous. It's really beautiful to see Portsmouth like this, but a shame that I can't go to the coast to see it with my own eyes.
2BX 5 years ago
Suggesting a 1 month shut down only hurts our small businesses and their employees. Small businesses are important.
Jaybird3939 5 years ago (edited)
The canals in Venice are becoming so clear that you can see fish swimming and even a jellyfish plugging along. The Himalayas are being seen from miles away due to lack of pollution in the air because of the lockdown. So, I believe the world-wide lockdown has created some positive things. Oh yeah, one of the biggest holes in the ozone has closed. Kinda awesome.
Linda Niemczyk 5 years ago
I call BS. Look the new construction. These were taken Months if not more In between. The pier is different.
Jeeves Williams 5 years ago
It’s not different — it’s dodgy 3D mapping by Google Earth. You’ll occasionally see 3D renders appear distorted on Google Maps and Apple Maps. The pier hasn’t been destroyed for decades.
Load More Replies...
elia 84631 5 years ago
I would be amazed if all the coasts were like this(clear water, good weather and good urban planning), because it reminds me something who would see in tropical or Mediterranean countries like Greece and i'm not kidding. I learnt an important lesson during the quarantine about human activity. I wish the people cared enough for the environment because it's too bad to lose these pictures
PjandBolt 5 years ago
I forget who says this, but it's a powerful quote. "If you remove animals from the planet, it would die. But if you remove humans from the planet, it would flourish."
T Simmons 5 years ago
This is nothing to do with pollution but weather and ocean currents. The water frequently changes from cloudy to clear along the coast. Huge leaps in conclusions. Poor.
Cathelijne van Weelden 5 years ago
I think so too, we have areas in the Netherlands at the coast where waters can be crystal clear. And there are areas which are always murky due to currents, algea, mud... Even though water quality is high.
Load More Replies... Mechelle Cantrell Dyer 5 years ago
I'd like to know exactly when those photos were taken. I'm not debating that things have possibly gotten better, but the end of the pier in the "before" picture is destroyed....so how long ago was that really taken. I'm all for doing what we can to help combat pollution. I'm NOT for putting forth questionable data.
Jeeves Williams 5 years ago
It’s not destroyed — it’s dodgy 3D mapping by Google Earth. You’ll occasionally see 3D renders appear distorted on Google Maps and Apple Maps. The pier hasn’t been destroyed for decades.
Load More Replies... Billy Brison 5 years ago
I actually live in this city and it's a very rare site for us to see the waters this calm and clear. We're a very busy port city with connections directly to Europe so the sea traffic is continuous. It's really beautiful to see Portsmouth like this, but a shame that I can't go to the coast to see it with my own eyes.
2BX 5 years ago
Suggesting a 1 month shut down only hurts our small businesses and their employees. Small businesses are important.
Jaybird3939 5 years ago (edited)
The canals in Venice are becoming so clear that you can see fish swimming and even a jellyfish plugging along. The Himalayas are being seen from miles away due to lack of pollution in the air because of the lockdown. So, I believe the world-wide lockdown has created some positive things. Oh yeah, one of the biggest holes in the ozone has closed. Kinda awesome.
Linda Niemczyk 5 years ago
I call BS. Look the new construction. These were taken Months if not more In between. The pier is different.
Jeeves Williams 5 years ago
It’s not different — it’s dodgy 3D mapping by Google Earth. You’ll occasionally see 3D renders appear distorted on Google Maps and Apple Maps. The pier hasn’t been destroyed for decades.
Load More Replies... elia 84631 5 years ago
I would be amazed if all the coasts were like this(clear water, good weather and good urban planning), because it reminds me something who would see in tropical or Mediterranean countries like Greece and i'm not kidding. I learnt an important lesson during the quarantine about human activity. I wish the people cared enough for the environment because it's too bad to lose these pictures
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