The temperatures of the Mediterranean are amazingly fluctuating and seem to follow a hidden agenda all of their own.
Every morning the Midi Libre gives the water temperatures of various beaches in our part of the Languedoc and surprisingly (as all are basically part of one long beach) the temperatures can vary by as much as four or five degrees C between beaches just 30 klms apart.
After a particularly hot spell in July some Irish guests went swimming in Serignan (where the Lifeguards hut displays the temp.) and it was a foot numbing 12 C. We had been in earlier in the month when it was a comfortable 19C and went to Serignan yesterday where it was a truly comfortable 22C.
Apparently very hot weather can cause the water to cool by causing currents from the cool deeps on to the surface- at least that is one unlikely explanation I have been told.
This seems to me to be hardly scientific.
Anyone got a better idea?
Comments
padraic
on August 25, 2010Convection currents occur in fluids (gases and liquids) – as water heats, its density decreases and it rises, as it cools its density increases and it sinks. This sets up convection currents which result in water movements such as that suggested.
Máire and I are still swimming every day in Foirnis [53 degrees 15.8′ North]and the temperature has dropped to about 16 – 17 Celsius.
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