I was at the Embankment in Putney tonight, and I noticed that the incoming 
tide was bringing a lot of foam. Where does it come from?

Incidentally, a police boat went up the river at about 11pm with siren 
blaring, despite the fact that there were no other boats moving and no 
possible benefit.of using the siren. Idiots.

On Jul 2, 2:25 am, "John Rowland"
 wrote:
> I was at the Embankment in Putney tonight, and I noticed that the incoming
> tide was bringing a lot of foam. Where does it come from?
>
> Incidentally, a police boat went up the river at about 11pm with siren
> blaring, despite the fact that there were no other boats moving and no
> possible benefit.of using the siren. Idiots.

At that time it wouldn't be easy to see if anyone or anything was in
the water, but I wonder in general what the siren might be for, given
that you can't nip out of the way very quickly on water.

"John Rowland"  wrote in message
news:g4eleb$p4k$1$8302bc10@news.demon.co.uk...

> Incidentally, a police boat went up the river at about 11pm with siren
> blaring, despite the fact that there were no other boats moving and no
> possible benefit.of using the siren. Idiots.

Sirens on police cars, ambulances, and fire engines can serve two purposes.

Both to clear people out of the way, but also to reassure callers that help is
on the way. When for instance a vehicle may be stuck in traffic some distance
away, but the siren would be clearly audible.

If people are in difficulties in or on the water in the dark, they're likely
to hear a siren well before they'd see an approaching boat.


michael adams

...



>
>

On 2 Jul, 02:25, "John Rowland"
 wrote:
> I was at the Embankment in Putney tonight, and I noticed that the incoming
> tide was bringing a lot of foam. Where does it come from?

Its biological isn't it? You get it on certain seashores. Not sure
under what conditions.

B2003

wrote in message 
news:03bb4ba8-2ee4-49db-b79e-e20e7bd5b386@r66g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
> On 2 Jul, 02:25, "John Rowland"
>  wrote:
>> I was at the Embankment in Putney tonight, and I noticed that the 
>> incoming
>> tide was bringing a lot of foam. Where does it come from?
>
> Its biological isn't it? You get it on certain seashores. Not sure
> under what conditions.
>

phytoplankton foam I think - Google throws up a few articles of a scientific 
nature...

Paul

"michael adams"  wrote in message 
news:6d19vaFb3p9U1@mid.individual.net...
>
> "John Rowland"  wrote in message
> news:g4eleb$p4k$1$8302bc10@news.demon.co.uk...
>
>> Incidentally, a police boat went up the river at about 11pm with siren
>> blaring, despite the fact that there were no other boats moving and no
>> possible benefit.of using the siren. Idiots.
>
> Sirens on police cars, ambulances, and fire engines can serve two 
> purposes.
>
> Both to clear people out of the way, but also to reassure callers that 
> help is
> on the way. When for instance a vehicle may be stuck in traffic some 
> distance
> away, but the siren would be clearly audible.
>
> If people are in difficulties in or on the water in the dark, they're 
> likely
> to hear a siren well before they'd see an approaching boat.
>
>
> michael adams
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How will the rescuers hear the person who is shouting for help at night if 
they have their siren blaring?

"RobWilton"  wrote in message
news:486bd44b$1_2@mk-nntp-2.news.uk.tiscali.com...
>
> "michael adams"  wrote in message
> news:6d19vaFb3p9U1@mid.individual.net...
> >
> > "John Rowland"  wrote in message
> > news:g4eleb$p4k$1$8302bc10@news.demon.co.uk...
> >
> >> Incidentally, a police boat went up the river at about 11pm with siren
> >> blaring, despite the fact that there were no other boats moving and no
> >> possible benefit.of using the siren. Idiots.
> >
> > Sirens on police cars, ambulances, and fire engines can serve two
> > purposes.
> >
> > Both to clear people out of the way, but also to reassure callers that
> > help is
> > on the way. When for instance a vehicle may be stuck in traffic some
> > distance
> > away, but the siren would be clearly audible.
> >
> > If people are in difficulties in or on the water in the dark, they're
> > likely
> > to hear a siren well before they'd see an approaching boat.
> >
> >
> > michael adams
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> How will the rescuers hear the person who is shouting for help at night if
> they have their siren blaring?

...

Why would the rescuers need to hear anyone shouting for help ?

They'll have been given the location already.

And their boats are all fitted with searchlights.

They're not simply cruising around, sirens blazing, on the off-chance
of finding someone crying for help.

And in any case, what about the sound of the boat's engine ?

Or are you suggesting they should maybe stick to row boats just in case ?



michael adams









>

"michael adams"  wrote in message 
news:6d25fpFfa2cU1@mid.individual.net...
>
> "RobWilton"  wrote in message
> news:486bd44b$1_2@mk-nntp-2.news.uk.tiscali.com...
>>
>> "michael adams"  wrote in message
>> news:6d19vaFb3p9U1@mid.individual.net...
>> >
>> > "John Rowland"  wrote in 
>> > message
>> > news:g4eleb$p4k$1$8302bc10@news.demon.co.uk...
>> >
>> >> Incidentally, a police boat went up the river at about 11pm with siren
>> >> blaring, despite the fact that there were no other boats moving and no
>> >> possible benefit.of using the siren. Idiots.
>> >
>> > Sirens on police cars, ambulances, and fire engines can serve two
>> > purposes.
>> >
>> > Both to clear people out of the way, but also to reassure callers that
>> > help is
>> > on the way. When for instance a vehicle may be stuck in traffic some
>> > distance
>> > away, but the siren would be clearly audible.
>> >
>> > If people are in difficulties in or on the water in the dark, they're
>> > likely
>> > to hear a siren well before they'd see an approaching boat.
>> >
>> >
>> > michael adams
>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>> How will the rescuers hear the person who is shouting for help at night 
>> if
>> they have their siren blaring?
>
> Or are you suggesting they should maybe stick to row boats just in case ?

> michael adams
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes!! A rowing boat sounds much more environmentally friendly & perhaps they 
could ring a bell as well.

On Wed, 2 Jul 2008, thagor2008@googlemail.com wrote:

> On 2 Jul, 02:25, "John Rowland"
>  wrote:
>> I was at the Embankment in Putney tonight, and I noticed that the incoming
>> tide was bringing a lot of foam. Where does it come from?
>
> Its biological isn't it? You get it on certain seashores. Not sure under 
> what conditions.

Something like that. Quantities vary:

http://www.thegamefish.com/foam.aspx

tom

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