Sea temperatures this year

I know the air temperatures have been perishingly cold for weeks now, but I found a couple of bits of interesting data which seems to suggest that sea temperatures this year are a full degree higher than is usual for the first 3 months

http://www.met.ie/marine/marine_climatology.asp
http://www.surf-forecast.com/current-ma ... mperatures

I don't know how accurate or meaningful these figures are, does anyone else have any data? If true we might see sport pick up a bit earlier this year (once this blummin east wind goes!). I just hope it doesn't presage more algal blooms!! (Always the pessimist!)

What actually helps warm the water up (is it just the sunlight) and how long does it take? is there any kind of rough formula to work from?

Its safe to assume the 8c now is from the atlantic current but what kind of heat, lenght of time, conditions will it take to bring this up to 10+

[lastcast]

I'm not a meteorologist but all of our energy (apart from a tiny proportion which is geothermal) originally comes from the sun. It's the distribution which is significant though, and obviously ocean currents play a huge part (also affecting our weather).

Last edited by lastcast on Tue Apr 02, 2013 2:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.

anyway, it doesn't matter what causes it and why - it is too frigging cold and we cant change that - have patience and sit it out! The only way...