Why is the water brown in Galveston?
I asked this question myself the first time I saw the sea at Galveston Island, Texas.
Is the ocean really Brown at Galveston?
Yes
Is the water dirty on Galveston Island?
No, not really dirty in the sense you mean.
Answers… I promise answers.
I wondered these things myself and before I would stick one toe inside the water there, I looked it up. I wanted a scientific explanation (dumbed down enough that I could understand.) I mean… Is brown water in Galveston safe?
Here’s why the ocean water is brown in Galveston:
The Gulf of Mexico is fed in part via the “Loop Current”. This is a nifty term that scientist like to use 😉 This ocean flow (or current) sends warmer water from the Yucatan Channel northward into the Gulf of Mexico. As this current comes in it bends and then heads towards Florida.
( I am no artist, but I drew a diagram to help you visualize.)
The Loop Current is one of the strongest and fastest in the Atlantic Ocean. This is what happens in the lower portion of the Gulf of Mexico.
Now… the upper portion of the gulf is affected by other factors. Look at my terrible diagram and notice the pink arrows from Louisiana towards Texas. Notice how the current is kissing the coast of Texas there?
The Mississippi River empties into the Gulf. Not considering the tributaries this river has, the Mississippi alone carries roughly 2 million tons of sediment each day. This sediment is dumped into the Gulf waters around and near Louisiana heavier than other areas. But this sediment is also joined by sediment from the Red River. You see, the Red River joins up with the Mississippi to create the Atchafalaya River. Guess where that river empties…
Yep, it’s the Gulf of Mexico. Are you starting to see a trend?
The currents (above in pink) indicate how the sediment in carried in two directions. Those currents carry a large portion of sediment to the coast of Texas. Sediment in other beach areas of the US have sea flora on the ocean floor that help trap sediment and clear the water. The ocean around Galveston is mostly shallow. Shallow water has a high sand and sediment turnover … literally. Therefore the water has a brown color that cannot be seen through.
The brown ocean water is very warm, almost tepid. Although it is murky water, it’s thoroughly relaxing to swim in. A warning though: there are more creatures that live in that area of the gulf and you can’t see them. I would recommend exercising common sense caution.
Have you been to Galveston and seen the brown water? Did it bother you or did you enjoy it just the same?