440 



BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 



The water temperature in Long Island Sound and especially its inshore waters are 

 dependent upon the local weather conditions and those in adjacent regions and will 

 follow them quite closely in their general trend. 



SOLAR RADIATION 



The sun is the primary source from which the water derives its heat. The 

 quantity of heat that the water absorbs is proportional to the intensity of solar 

 radiation, which varies during the months of the year, as shown in Figure 6. Its 



13 17 21 25 29 2 6 '0 14 18 22 



JULY AUGUST 



Figure 5. — Daily water temperatures, MUford Harbor, 1925 and 1926 



intensity is greatest during the latter part of July and is responsible for the maximum 

 air and water temperatures that occur at that time of the year. Although the water 

 is warmed considerably by direct absorption, the greatest effect of sunlight on water 

 temperature is the heating of the air and the land with which the water comes in 

 contact. 



Solar radiation has a pronounced effect upon the temperature of the water in 

 Long Island Sound because of its configuration and tidal conditions. As a result of 

 these conditions, the water is kept in constant motion and brought into contact with 

 large land areas or tidal flats, which have a temperature much higher than that of 

 the air because of the absorption of a greater proportion of the sun's heat. The 

 effect of solar radiation on air, land, and water temperature will vary according to 



