Image
© Tracy Sizemore
A photograph recently sent to us by reader Tracy Sizemore has National Weather Service forecasters puzzled. The image was taken on December 15 and shows what appear to be rows of smoke flowing offshore at the ocean's surface in Aliso Beach. The photo was reportedly taken at 6:50 a.m., on a day when the wind was blowing offshore. The ocean temperature was 59 degrees.

"I'm not sure what this is," said Miguel Miller, a veteran weather service forecaster. "It might be some kind of evaporation. But this isn't the sort of thing you'd see on a warm day over a cold lake."

The image also was reviewed by Stan Wasowski of Mission Viejo, another veteran weather service forecaster. He called it "pretty curious" but added that he wasn't certain what he was looking at.

If you know what the photo shows, put your thoughts in the Comments section. Or send me an email at grobbins@ocregister.com.