Foam Party in UK Villages: From Floating Ships to Swirling Forests, What’s Happening?

① The Land of Harry Potter, a Magical Bubble Party?

When you think of the United Kingdom, Harry Potter is inevitably part of the image. The beloved series drew its long-anticipated curtain in 2011, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 2, but the love from Harry Potter fans around the globe seems to know no end.

Even though the movies have ended, the world of Harry Potter is so well-crafted that it’s hard to escape the lingering charm it has left behind.

Many tourists still visit the UK to experience the Harry Potter Studio located in London. It shows just how many people want to immerse themselves in the world of Harry Potter.

During your time at the Harry Potter Studio, you can feel like you’ve stepped into a magical realm. The disappointment of leaving behind the strange phenomena you’ve witnessed and returning to the real world is said to be indescribable.

However, a strange phenomenon has recently occurred in the real world of the UK, not in the Harry Potter Studio. Some villages in the UK have been covered in a massive amount of foam.

Not only are the village roads covered, but dogs out for a walk have to swim through the foam, which has swelled to a great height and volume.

It’s like a strange phenomenon straight out of the Harry Potter universe. This natural event occurred this fall when Typhoon Barbet made landfall in coastal villages in the UK.

The identity of this foam is ‘seafoam.’ Seafoams mainly form during severe storms.

The sea foam came over the breakwaters along with the waves due to Storm Barbet.

② Sea Foam, Increasing Due to Global Warming

When you look at the white and sticky sea foam from afar, it resembles a fluffy bubble party. But what exactly is this sea foam?

Seawater contains particles of organic matter such as pollutants similar to detergents, proteins, fats, and decaying algae. When these organic materials mix with seawater, they become dense and sticky.

The more organic materials, the higher the viscosity. When air enters these organic materials, the high viscosity prevents it from escaping, creating foam.

As was the case this fall with Typhoon Barbet, strong winds bring strong waves. And the stronger the waves, the more air enters the organic matter.

SeSeafoammainly composed of proteins from decaying seaweed does not directly harm the human body. Also, as part of the natural cycle, it appears over time.

Some people play in the sea foam or apply it to their bodies. However, it’s better to avoid contact as it can contain sewage, microplastics, and harmful algae.

SeSeafoams are becoming more prevalent worldwide due to global warming. The reason is that the strong winds and heavy rains caused by global warming inject more air into the organic matter, as mentioned earlier.

The problem is that a large amount of sea foam can lead to the disappearance of pets or even humans. Such incidents have occurred in several countries.

③ Strange Phenomena in the UK

Another strange phenomenon was reported in the UK, which was under the influence of Typhoon Barbet. A woman named Mallon was walking her dog as usual on the forest path of Mud Dog in Stirlingshire, Scotland, when she witnessed the ground moving up and down.

Experts analyzed that the phenomenon occurred when the ground was waterlogged due to the typhoon accompanied by heavy rain, and the strong wind caused the ground part held by the tree roots to sway.

Mallon posted a related video on her X (former Twitter) and expressed her surprise at the time, saying, “This morning the forest moved like the sea” and “The earth was taking a deep breath.”

Even before the phenomena caused by Typhoon Barbet, other strange phenomena have been captured in the UK. In 2021, a photo taken by David Morris near the coast of Cornwall became a hot topic.

His photo showed ‘the appearance of a ship floating in the air,’ which might make one think, ‘Is this the land of Harry Potter, the UK?’ However, this photo is an optical illusion.

BBC meteorologist David Brain explained, “This ‘superior mirage’ occurs due to special atmospheric conditions that refract light.”

Superior mirages occur in climatic conditions of ‘temperature inversion,’ where cold air is located near the sea, and warm air is above it.

The air density of cold air is higher, so to people located on the coast or land, light refracts, and objects far away appear distorted.

This phenomenon commonly occurs in the Arctic regions, but it can also happen in the UK during winter. However, if you see a ship floating in the air without warning, you’d undoubtedly be as surprised as David Morris.

By. Seo Sung Min