Why are East Coast beaches murky?

Sediment plays a big factor in water color. Smaller, more fine sand particles can make water murkier since they are easily agitated. In clear water, sediments may be coarser and tougher to stir up since they are heavier and made of shell pieces and dead coral chunks.



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Distance from sediment sources: Beaches located far from major sediment sources, such as rivers or coastal erosion, tend to have clearer water. Sediments suspended in the water, including particles like sand, silt, or clay, can decrease water clarity and make it appear murky.

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On average, west coast beaches are considerably more secluded, which is hardly a surprise considering only a handful of major cities line its shores. The surf is also superior due to larger Pacific swells and a distinct lack of shelter from bays and coves.

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Unseasonably calm waters have allowed sediment to settle, leaving behind a crystal clear ocean along the South Carolina coast.

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Many of Florida's beaches have shores with shallow waters, which often result in sandbars. When the sun reflects off the white ocean floor and the surrounding microscopic plankton, this creates the gradient effect of transparent, emerald, and azure waters.

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The water is clear due to the absence of plankton and suspended particles. Plankton is the base of the food web in all oceans and, because there is little plankton in the tropics, tropical ocean water is nearly sterile in comparison with the fertile waters of the temperate oceans.

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Beaches in the U.S. are getting a filthy reputation due to pollution, overdevelopment, and unsanitary conditions, and a damning report from Environment America highlights how bad the situation is. Turns out, 55% of the beaches tested have potentially unsafe levels of fecal contamination.

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