Phosphorus

I have somewhat of an idea where this comes from, but still not sure if I have the facts:

The reason I'm curious is because there is a place back home that 'glows' in the night because the area/water is full of phosphorus. It's really beautiful to see, but what really causes it? Where did phosphorus come from? It wasn't man made..obviously. Can anyone here tell me more about it? And also has anyone else seen something like what I posted above? And why is it so prevalent only in certain areas? I was also told that wherever there is an abundance of it, there is also great energy/power there...

OK then...that's all for now Any info is greatly appreciated/as always..
Magestica

*I'm thinking this might be in the wrong thread/area* sorry if it is..and feel free to move it

[Edited on 5/24/03 by magestica]

Either it's really dumb...or noone here knows..OR noone cares??

I'll just go look through some search engines(though I'd rather here your thoughts here)
Magestica

I had no luck finding my queries though search engine..
Can someone please help me out?
Magestica

*Ummhummm you guys just all have me on ignore is what it is*

[Edited on 5/26/03 by magestica]

Magestica,

What kind of local knowledge do you have regarding if this is in fact phosphorus? What you are observing sounds very interesting, although I would have to actually take a look at it to find what it is.

A few links that may explain what you are seeing, please let us know which sounds the most likely to you.

Minerological phosphorescence is very rare, although it is known to exist, especially in certain flourite/calcite minerals.

www.memphisgeology.org...

Elemental phosphorus is very rare, and I would seriously doubt that is what you are seeing, as it is highly reactive, especially white phosphorus, in air, and spontaneously combusts. Some minerological combination of phosphorus with other minerals is possible, although I dont know that any of them luminesce.

www.scescape.net...

Phosphate (manmade) pollution is a real possibility for you however. Phosphates are a constituent of many detergents, and also make a very efficient fertilizer for many water borne algeas and other biota. In areas where large amounts of phosphates are released into the water, algae and other biota will essentially clog a waterway. This has led to a ban of phosphate containing detergents in several states.

www.chesapeakebay.net...

This would go hand in hand with the explosion of various biota (considering your location) that could bioluminece.... I would think this to be the most likely possibility.

www.sio.ucsd.edu...

Please let us know which you think this might be!

OK, back home in Fla there is a little river in the woods and at night you can see greenish sparkley glowing coming from the water and some spots around the river...(I did not touch any of it though)
I went there with some friends because we had all 'heard' about it, but never could find it..well we finally did one evening and it was quite a sight!! The area is owned by a military base, so you can actually get warned-then fined if you don't have a pass, but we all sneak around there anyway LOL! So we were told that it's phosphorus that causes the glowing, but I never understood how it got there and all..

I haven't read through your links yet, but I'll do so after I submit this reply(I'm just excited someone answered my post here) I'll get back to you with more...Thank you much!!
Magestica

*Also we were told that there's been alot of 'illegal' dumping there in that area and I thought maybe that might have had something to do with why it 'glows'*

*Also we were told that there's been alot of 'illegal' dumping there in that area and I thought maybe that might have had something to do with why it 'glows'*

I wouldn't go swimming in the water if I were you..... unless you want to wake up the next day with a third eye or an xtra arm or something. jk

Great info there DR.

[Edited on 27-5-2003 by Ocelot]

Maj, right up the road in Santa Rosa County you'll find one of the highest cancer rates in the nation now.

Just putting two and two together. I might be coming up with 47.8 instead of 4, but this kid is staying on the dry bank with Ocelot. Especially on the base. Uncle Sugar has given me all the reasons to worry about cancer that he's going to, if I can help it!

I'm from Santa Rosa/Okaloosa county !!
But NO, I'm not that dence to go swimming in any of the rivers or even the ocean there..

I wasn't aware that they had the highest cancer rate? I thought Cali 'did' because of the bomb that went off there back in the 40's I think?? Anyone remember hearing about that?
Magestica

Yeah, you're Okaloosa, aren't you?

My kin are from Santa Rosa so I kind of keep an ear open for news of that area. I heard that about two, maybe three years ago.

It makes sense. The area's pretty flat, alot of marsh and little drainage and an accumalation of the poisons from everything around, from woodmills to the military.

I remember swimming in Cold Water Creek when I was a kid visiting. You don't swim in that creek now, not that there's much water left from what I hear, but if you've ever taken Chem 101 you won't put a toe in it.

*The military* they have some REALLY strange 'goings' on over there, and much of it I've seen myself Soooo...
That area is the ONLY area that is completely surrounded by military bases...and there's something to be said about that(but I ain't saying) hehe!

I did go swimming once at blackwater I think? But that was a long time ago..but I wouldn't step one toe in water that was 'glowing'...
Magestica

Magestica what type of things do you see the military doing? Please explain in as much detail.

Originally posted by magestica
That area is the ONLY area that is completely surrounded by military bases...and there's something to be said about that(but I ain't saying) hehe!
Magestica

*Read that again*

I'm going to 'attempt' to put the photo here, but if it doesn't show then you can click the link and the photo is there-
link-

h2osparc.wq.ncsu.edu...

PHOTO-this is exactly what it looked like mig.lathwood.co.uk...


[Edited on 5/27/03 by magestica]

If there is "Illegal Dumping" in your area, there is no telling what kind of strange chemical reactions are taking place there. There could be any number of strange concoctions that could be glowing.

Also, if the facility generating this waste is military in nature, you are doubly in the shadows, as the military likes to use the 'good old stuff' that was banned from civilian consumption decades ago...

I will readily state that the US Military is THE worst environmental criminal on the planet. I have spent the past 2 years cleaning up some of the most toxic sludge associated with a number of army/AF bases.

its algae in the water, glows at night

Tend to agree with Tut that it's algae causing the situation.

The reasons are because I 'know' what algae looks like and I've seen algae in a fresh water river and it does not glow or emit light. This is the only body of water I've ever seen that has looked like that. Did anyone here read the links I provided? Here is a paragraph from the link:
*Many bodies of freshwater are currently experiencing influxes of phosphorus and nitrogen from outside sources. The increasing concentration of available phosphorus allows plants to assimilate more nitrogen before the phosphorus is depleted. Thus, if sufficient phosphorus is available, elevated concentrations of nitrates will lead to algal blooms. Although levels of 0.08 to 0.10 mg/l orthophosphate may trigger periodic blooms, long-term eutrophication will usually be prevented if total phosphorus levels and orthophosphate levels are below 0.5 mg/l and 0.05 mg/l, respectively (Dunne and Leopold, 1978).*
~And here is the picture~looks just like what we saw~
mig.lathwood.co.uk...

Now if you read that and look at the photo, you'll see that phosphorus is not that uncommon.
Magestica

dear M
looked at your picture
in clear lake, ca. [the geysers] there is a lake, ironically called clear lake. however it is not always clear. it is about 6 miles long by two wide, much larger than the one at your website. due to rain, atmosphere, volcanic activity, sunlight,etc....it cycles through periods of extreme algae growth resulting in a thick layer of carpet that covers red to brown to green spectrum. [and really messes up fishing and props on boats] and at night it does in fact glow
on the other hand it is possible the military is propagating large amounts of algae for a certain sinister deed