Visitors and locals have noticed Scarborough's sea water looking clearer than usual this week. This is due to a sustained period of calm conditions allowing sand in the sea water to sink to the sea bed and allowing the water to appear clearer than normal. It is a misconception that it's cleaner than normal. It's purely the amount of sand and silt washing around which changes water clarity on the Yorkshire Coast. The sea in Cornwall often has a tropical appearance but that doesn't mean it's cleaner. The sand is made of heavier and lighter shells which sink to the sea bed easier and leave the water clearer for longer, helping to create a more 'tropical' appearance. Other factors making Scarborough's sea water look clearer include a lack of rain run off from fields bringing deposits into the water and winds swirling the seawater around. Scarborough also has the advantage not having any major rivers carrying silt into the seas.