Sea sparkle is also likely to happen during these months. That is mostly when the red waves are also sighted, another similar phenomenon in which the waves are illuminated, with a red hue to them. “The months of September and October, post the rains, when the sea is rich after the flushing out from the land is said to be a bloom period for the planktons. As the life cycle of Noctiluca is just about a day, the sighting would also last only for a few hours or a day.” This happens in relatively calm waters and in a highly conducive environment. For the glow to be visible, there should be a very high concentration, with millions of the particular plankton species coming together. Tidal amplitude disturbs the concentration. It is rarely sighted in our coasts, perhaps due to the tidal amplitude.
![kumbalangi nights tormalayalam kumbalangi nights tormalayalam](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BM2I4NzgwNTQtMzVlOS00OTg2LTg3MjQtMzJlM2FmZWZlZGE1XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjAyMzMzNjA@._V1_.jpg)
It is more common in Japan, California in the US and in South American coasts.
![kumbalangi nights tormalayalam kumbalangi nights tormalayalam](https://www.thenewsminute.com/sites/all/var/www/images/Kumbalangi_nights.jpg)
Though pretty rare, bioluminescence may also be sighted in estuaries and brackish waters where sea water intrusion happens. The sparkle can be compared to the fireflies’ glow, but the micro-plankton itself cannot be seen by the naked eye as it’s a micro-organism. Throwing more light to the ‘magical glow’ phenomenon, Dr Gulshad said, “Sea sparkle, as the name suggests, is caused by high concentration of a micro-plankton called Noctiluca scintillans in the sea. Dr Gulshad Mohammed, Principal Marine Scientist, Central Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Kozhikode, who has presented a paper on the sparkling red waves, agrees with Madhu.