𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗞 𝗪𝗔𝗩𝗘𝗦: Researchers Dye Santa Monica Bay to Track Ocean Currents

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Monday, September 15, 2025 — Visitors to the Santa Monica Pier were greeted by an unexpected sight this morning as ocean waves near the breakwater glowed bright pink. The striking color is part of a scientific experiment led by researchers from the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering in partnership with The Bay Foundation. The team released a temporary, non-toxic fluorescent dye known as Rhodamine Water Tracer into the water to study how currents circulate around the Santa Monica Pier and its historic breakwater. The dye, long used in oceanographic research, disperses naturally and poses no risk to people, marine life, or the environment. Additional releases are scheduled for September 22–24 and September 30. The project builds on a 2024 study by the UCLA Coastal Flood Lab and The Bay Foundation that examined how the breakwater affects water quality. Although storms in the 1980s reduced the 1934 structure to its current height, scientists say the remnants still influence coastal circulation, contributing to persistent water-quality concerns near the pier. By tracking the dye’s movement with drones and monitoring equipment, researchers hope to better understand how pollutants, nutrients, and sediments travel through the bay. “Even though the breakwater no longer functions as a marina, it continues to shape water flow and the health of the surrounding ecosystem,” said Professor Timu Gallien, the study’s lead investigator. Funded by The Bay Foundation and supported by the City of Santa Monica, the California Coastal Commission, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the experiment aims to inform future strategies for protecting Santa Monica Bay. Visitors can expect to see the pink plumes on upcoming release days, a vivid reminder of science at work in one of Southern California’s most iconic coastal settings. Santa Monica Closeup will continue to monitor the experiment and provide updates as researchers track the dye’s journey and its impact on understanding ocean circulation.