6 Water Characteristics 



Monthly averages of daily measurements of surface water temperature, 

 visibility, and density at the seaward end of the FRP pier are given in 

 Table 8. The summaries represent single observations made near 0700 EST and, 

 therefore, may not reflect daily average conditions since such characteristics can 

 change within a 24-hr period. Large temperature variations were common when 

 there were large differences between the air and water temperatures and variations 

 in wind direction. From past experience, persistent onshore winds move warmer 

 surface water toward the shoreline, although offshore winds cause colder bottom 

 water to circulate shoreward, resulting in lower temperatures. 



Table 8 















Mean Surface Water Characteristics 









Temperature 



Visibi 



lity 



Density 







deq 



C 



m 





q/cm' 







1980- 





1980- 





1980- 



Month 



1995 



1995 



1995 



1995 



1995 



1995 



Jan 



8.3 



6.5 



0.9 



1.3 



1.0247 



1.0234 



Feb 



5.9 



5.6 



1.9 



1.8 



1.0251 



1.0231 



Mar 



7.7 



7.1 



2.5 



1.6 



1.0234 



1.0227 



Apr 



11.3 



11.0 



2.5 



1.9 



1.0243 



1.0223 



May 



15.7 



15.4 



3.0 



2.3 



1.0233 



1.0218 



Jun 



21.8 



19.6 



3.5 



3.3 



1.0213 



1.0212 



Jul 



23.0 



21.9 



4.1 



3.8 



1.0226 



1.0215 



Aug 



23.8 



23.4 



1.6 



3.1 



1.0224 



1.0207 



Sep 



24.0 



23.1 



1.1 



2.2 



1.0214 



1.0209 



Oct 



21.6 



19.4 



0.9 



1.4 



1.0234 



1.0219 



Nov 



14.9 



14.9 



1.1 



1.1 



1.0246 



1.0230 



Dec 



8.5 



10.0 



1.0 



1.1 



1.0248 



1.0235 



Annua I 



15.6 



14.8 



2.0 



2.1 



1.0234 



1.0221 



42 



Chapter 6 Water Characteristics 



