Every now and then, we get a serpentine sea trail in Great Cove, such as this beauty from a few days ago.
We assume that it’s not from a submerged cousin of the Loch Ness Monster. We can see that it’s not from a large school of fish or the wake of a boat with a drunken captain. What causes this?
Research indicates that it might be a rip or a cross-current in the lowering tide with vertical eddies that smooth the surface while meandering below it. Or, it could be from stray cold front winds that wiggle over flat surfaces and leave water signatures. Or, it could be part of a “Langmuir Circulation.” (Don’t ask.) Or, it could be something else. Feel free to share your own theory in a comment. (Brooklin, Maine)