Strong winds whip up sea foam in Cornish harbour town
Locals have described the scene in Porthleven as looking like white lava or whipped cream
Strong winds have whipped up what looked like a foam party in the Cornish harbour town of Porthleven.
Locals shared photos and videos on Tuesday, describing the scene as white lava or whipped cream.
Andy Marchant posted these images, showing the foam-covered beach and flecks of foam blowing up onto the harbour front.
What is sea foam and how does it form?
Sea foam, or spume, is created when the ocean is disturbed by wind and waves.
The surreal phenomenon is actually more common than you might think, especially during Cornwall's stormy weather!
"If you scoop up some water from the ocean in a clear glass and look at it closely, you'll see that it's chock full of tiny particles.
"Seawater contains dissolved salts, proteins, fats, dead algae, detergents and other pollutants, and a bunch of other bits and pieces of organic and artificial matter.
"If you shake this glass of ocean water vigorously, small bubbles will form on the surface of the liquid.
"Sea foam forms in this way - but on a much grander scale - when the ocean is agitated by wind and waves.
"Each coastal region has differing conditions governing the formation of sea foams".
National Ocean Service