River Foam

[OckViewer]

Not sure if this the best place for this post, so hopefully you won't mind if I put it here. I've also done a search on the forum and haven't found anything to answer my question.

After the recent snow melt, my local river has produced foam:



After some research on the internet I've concluded that it is likely to be natural, caused by an increase in organic matter resulting in a change to the surface tension of the water

However, I've heard it maybe pollution from agribusiness washing into rivers, especially slurry.

I was wondering what the consenus on this foam is? Natural or not?

Any other references would also be welcome

Thanks (as always)

[The Woodman]

I think it is entirely natural as a result of organic proteins forming these rafts of foam.

When I first came across this phenomenon I enquired about it from our regional water authority and was told just that. I notice it after there has been a steady wet spell and then a good flush following a downpour.

Your image shows this natural foam and not that produced by slurry.

[loripo]

It may be that after the snow has melted organic matter has been washed into the river which can make natural surfactant and so creates foam. It should disperse very quickly tho if it's natural. The colour of 'natural' foam is usually brownish, which it looks like from the photo.

The Woodman just beat me to it!

[tom00_uk]

just like above its a protein foam, this effect is used in some water cleaning process such as marine fish tanks where the water is aerated in a column and the resulting foam skimmed off hence the name protein skimmer

[OckViewer]

Many thanks for your comments - looks like it's natural

[thebeard]

i was told it was bacteria forming the foam? is there any truth in this??? might be bacteria benefiting from the increase in organic matter?

[david156]

Would this also be the same type of foam that you get along the beach sometimes.

david

[Chris Yeates]

Originally Posted by OckViewer

Not sure if this the best place for this post, so hopefully you won't mind if I put it here. I've also done a search on the forum and haven't found anything to answer my question.

After the recent snow melt, my local river has produced foam:



After some research on the internet I've concluded that it is likely to be natural, caused by an increase in organic matter resulting in a change to the surface tension of the water

However, I've heard it maybe pollution from agribusiness washing into rivers, especially slurry.

I was wondering what the consenus on this foam is? Natural or not?

Any other references would also be welcome

Thanks (as always)

Hi

just come across this thread . . . . this might be of interest:

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/fo...659-post6.html

cheers

Chris