A mysterious bubbling off the California coast sparked speculation of submarine activity or flatulent whales before being revealed as mundane construction.
Residents of the Hermosa Beach area spotted the bubbling in the water this week, sparking speculation of phenomenon including blue fin tuna activity, submarines in the area, alien visitors or even farting whales.
The answer turned out to be work on fiber-optic lines that cross the Pacific Ocean from California to Asia.
Rick Devinney, who is overseeing the contract work, said Meta, the parent company of Facebook, is planning to add a line in the coming months, and part of the preparation process is blowing air through the line to ensure ducts are working properly.
The City of Hermosa Beach previously issued a construction notice Nov. 6 related to the same project. The notice warned of street closures along Longfellow Avenue, next to the shore, but did not mention the work off the coast.
