Jersey shore ocean temperatures colder than usual this summer, wind patterns force colder water from bottom say experts-Star-Ledger

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7/12/13, "Jersey Shore ocean temperatures colder-than-normal due to upwelling," Star-Ledger, Erin O'Neill

"Beachgoers along the Jersey Shore have had to make a choice this summer: wither in the sun or shiver in the water.

That’s because steady southwest winds are pushing warm water away from the beach and pulling colder water up from the bottom of the ocean, experts say.

The process — called upwelling — has forced people seeking relief from the scorching sun to brave water temperatures that are nearly 15 degrees below normal for this time of year in some parts of the state.

“What’s caused this cold water to get to the beach and be so widespread is that for the last two weeks we’ve had really persistent winds from the southwest,” said Josh Kohut, an oceanographer with Rutgers University. “That has led to a prolonged push of water — cold water — up to the beach.”

Thursday afternoon, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported the ocean temperature at the Atlantic City Steel Pier was near 55 degrees. The average temperature for this time of year is 69 degrees.

But the colder-than-normal temperatures haven’t kept swimmers away, according to Rod Aluise, chief of the Atlantic City Beach Patrol.

“There’s people in the water,” he said. “I don’t know how they do it, but they do it.” Aluise said last summer the city was spoiled and enjoyed warmer water temperatures. “Now we have the other side of the coin,” he said.

Most of the impact of the upwelling is concentrated in the southern half of the state, Kohut said.

“That’s due partly to the orientation of the coast,” he explained. Still, cold temperatures have reached farther north. Seaside Heights registered a low of 56 degrees in the last two weeks, according to Jay Boyd, chief of the borough’s beach patrol. Normally, he said, the ocean temperatures would be around 68 degrees.

In Spring Lake, chief lifeguard Janet Carbin said temperatures have been fluctuating between 65 and 69 degrees, when the average should “absolutely” be in the low 70s

“It’s tolerable, but you are not in for a long time,” she said."...

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