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Wind Slither
Since 04 Mar 2005
2570 Posts
The 503
METAL
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Mon May 18, 15 2:15 pm OT: Purple Sailors |
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Before the Barney's posted their latest video showing the jelly fish on the beach, I hadn't realized how wide spread the phenomenon was. Here's an article with more about them. Add to the warnings, not to drive your car over them or it will stink for days!
http://seagrant.oregonstate.edu/sgpubs/onlinepubs/g03004.pdf
Velella is an offshore resident. Winds blowing gently against its triangular, clear sail move the jellyfish. The sail is set diagonally to the long axis of the animal. On our side of the north Pacific Ocean, their sails are set in a northwest to southeast direction. On the other side of the north Pacific, the sails are set in a northeast to southwest direction. In the southern hemisphere, sails are reversed. As long as the winds blow gently, Velella tacks at about 45˚ away from a following wind. This keeps the animal offshore.
When winds are strong, Velella loses its tacking ability and begins spinning and more directly follows the wind. Strong westerlies, then, are what drive these animals onto our beaches.
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Gman
Since 11 Feb 2006
4907 Posts
Portland
Unstrapped
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ldhr
Since 21 Jul 2009
1470 Posts
Hood River
XTreme Poster
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Mon May 18, 15 3:34 pm |
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Cali beaches were covered with them last few weeks.
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FlyDunes
Since 09 Oct 2007
1034 Posts
Aloha
XTreme Poster
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Wed May 20, 15 1:47 pm Re: OT: Purple Sailors |
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Wind Slither wrote: | ... Add to the warnings, not to drive your car over them or it will stink for days! |
You mean "weeks". Your car will stink for weeks. Mine can prove it.
_________________ Lets FLY |
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