SAN DIEGO -- Mission Bay was a little more colorful Wednesday, as scientists used brightly hued dye to get an idea of how pollution is spread through the water body.

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Study Helping Track Bacteria, Pollution

The city of San Diego is overseeing the study done by a Scripps Institution of Oceanography team.

The aim of the study is to help understand where pollution in a given part of Mission Bay might have originated.

"This project will add much value to the ongoing monitoring of bacteria levels in Mission Bay," said John Largier of Scripps, who is the principal investigator.

Researchers in boats are this week leaving trails of the nontoxic bright red or green dye in the water, and then will track the shape and movement of dye patches and the concentration in the water.

"We can measure the flow and dilution -- not just look at the interesting patterns and see how visible it is," Largier said. "That's really where the science is."

The dye releases will be done through Christmas Eve.

The study is funded by a state fine the city had to pay because of a large sewage spill in 2001.