Oceans & waters · United States · summer
Marine Bioluminescence in Tomales Bay
Dinoflagellate bays and marine bioluminescence windows, scored from lunar darkness, seasonal water warmth, and low freshwater runoff.
Readiness
High confidence0
Season closed 15 days ago. Next opens in 234 days
Live summary
As of 9 Nov 2026, Marine Bioluminescence readiness in Tomales Bay, United States is 0 out of 100, phase between seasons. The timing model places peak on 25 Aug 2027. Lunar illumination is 1%. Mean cloud cover over the next three days is 32%.
- Readiness
- 0 / 100
- Status
- Ended
- Confidence
- High confidence
- Evidence type
- Forecast
- Model
- Dark-moon ephemeris, seasonal warmth, and runoff
- Timing
- Season closed 15 days ago. Next opens in 234 days
- Estimated peak window
- 12 Aug 2027 – 7 Sept 2027
- Climatological peak
- 25 Aug 2027
- Adjusted peak
- 25 Aug 2027
- Accumulated GDD
- n/a
- Planetary K-index
- n/a
- Lunar illumination
- 1%
- NDVI
- n/a
- Cloud cover, next 3 days
- 32%
- Coordinates
- 38.15° N, 122.91° W
- Updated
- 9 Nov 2026, 08:42 UTC
This score uses dark-moon ephemeris, seasonal warmth, and runoff.
Fourteen-day outlook
Projected readiness for each day. Botanical and wildlife bars use forecast temperature. Meteor shower bars combine stream activity, lunar phase, and forecast cloud cover. Aurora bars use the NOAA 3-day Kp forecast when available and a quiet-oval baseline with forecast cloud cover for days 4–14.
Mon 9
0 out of 100 on 2026-11-09
70% cld
Tue 10
0 out of 100 on 2026-11-10
17% cld
Wed 11
0 out of 100 on 2026-11-11
9% cld
Thu 12
0 out of 100 on 2026-11-12
51% cld
Fri 13
0 out of 100 on 2026-11-13
61% cld
Sat 14
0 out of 100 on 2026-11-14
100% cld
Sun 15
0 out of 100 on 2026-11-15
80% cld
Mon 16
0 out of 100 on 2026-11-16
60% cld
Tue 17
0 out of 100 on 2026-11-17
25% cld
Wed 18
0 out of 100 on 2026-11-18
1% cld
Thu 19
0 out of 100 on 2026-11-19
59% cld
Fri 20
0 out of 100 on 2026-11-20
30% cld
Sat 21
0 out of 100 on 2026-11-21
93% cld
Sun 22
0 out of 100 on 2026-11-22
81% cld
Field notes & historical context
Point Reyes fjord-like embayment where late-summer upwelling and warm autumn stillness trigger dinoflagellate blooms.
Bioluminescent dinoflagellates such as Pyrodinium bahamense and Noctiluca scintillans concentrate in shallow, nutrient-rich embayments during warm months, flashing blue-green when mechanically agitated under moonless skies.
38.15° N, 122.91° W · America/Los_Angeles
Sources & data freshness
Forecast · High confidence · Updated 9 Nov 2026, 08:42 UTC
- USNO / Synodic Lunar Ephemeris
New-moon darkness window and lunar illumination interference
- NOAA CoastWatch / Marine Bio-Optical Reference
Dinoflagellate embayment seasonality and coastal water conditions
- Open-Meteo Weather & Precipitation Forecast
Freshwater runoff (precipitation) and cloud cover outlook
Safety & responsible visiting
Never wear DEET insect repellent, sunscreen, or skin lotions into bioluminescent waters—chemical residues kill dinoflagellate colonies. Use licensed kayak operators and avoid swimming where prohibited.
Natural phenomena depend on live weather, local access rules, and habitat conditions. Verify local advisories before travelling.
Ground-truth provenance
Community reportField observations for Tomales Bay
Community observations supplement satellite and weather models with eye-level reports. Every submission is tagged as a Community report with provenance and moderation status—never blended silently into automated readiness scores.
No community field reports have been logged for Tomales Bay in this session yet.
Related places
Places close enough to plan with Tomales Bay.