Abstract
A PECULIAR phenomenon often to be seen on the northern waters of the Dead Sea is that of arcs of foam, more or loss semicircular, spreading out fan-wise from certain points of the west and east shores. The arcs seem to spread from the shores in early morning and often meet and even cross during the forenoon. These lines of foam often bear reeds and other vegetation debris that have reached the Dead Sea by inflowing rivers, and, at the seasons of migration, the foam may attract flocks of birds searching for food. Dr. D. Ashbel has recorded some of his observations on this phenomenon and offers an explanation (Geog. Rev., Jan. 1938). The arcs originate from springs on the two shores, and they make discontinuities between bodies of water of different salinity and density. When the outflow of the springs is strong, the arc is frequently not smooth but zig-zag. This explanation contradicts the earlier one of Blanckenhorn that the lines of foam originate from warm water arising along lines of fault on the sea floor. That suggestion does not explain lack of replacement of the lines as each moves forward, which Dr. Ashbel thinks is due to the gentle winds that frequently blow from the land on to the sea during the night and early morning. These winds do not ruffle the water and so mixing does not occur. Gusty west winds such as often occur in the afternoon cause mixing and so the lines of discontinuity disappear.
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Foam on the Dead Sea. Nature 143, 468 (1939). https://doi.org/10.1038/143468a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/143468a0