end of the FRF pier (Figure 33) experienced large variations during June 

 through September when frequent offshore winds blew warm surface water sea- 

 ward, allowing upward and landward circulation of much colder and more turbid 

 bottom water. Persisent offshore winds (as high as 10 m/sec) during the first 

 12 days of August were responsible for unseasonably cold water temperatures 

 during the month. Onshore winds reversed this circulation, piling up warm 

 surface water against the shoreline. Monthly mean temperatures (Table 11) 

 were lowest during January through March and highest from July through 

 September . 



91. 1983 versus prior years. In general, water temperatures during the 

 year were higher than for prior years (Figure 34). 



92. Combined years. The distribution of surface water temperatures 

 for all years combined is shown in Figure 35. Temperatures in excess of 25° C 

 can be expected 4 percent of the time (or 14 days per year), while tempera- 

 tures below 4° C can be expected less than 6 percent of the time (or 20 days 

 per year) . 



Visibility 



93. Visibility in coastal nearshore waters depends on the amount of 



JUL HUB 9EP on NOV DEC 

 nONTH 



Figure 33. Daily sea-surface water temperature 

 for 1983 



60 



