CROATIA INFO
CROATIA INFO
CROATIA INFO: ADRIATIC SEA
SEA TEMPERATURES - The Adriatic Sea belongs to the group of warmer seas with a noticeable annual change in the surface temperature of the sea. The average annual temperature is 11°C, maximum temperatures are in July and August, and minimum temperatures in February. The lowest winter surface temperature of the sea is around 7°C but on rare occasions can be even lower. Temperatures rise in spring and reach around 18°C, and in summer rise to 22°C-25°C and in the southern Adriatic to 27°C.
SEA TEMPERATURES - The Adriatic Sea belongs to the group of warmer seas with a noticeable annual change in the surface temperature of the sea. The average annual temperature is 11°C, maximum temperatures are in July and August, and minimum temperatures in February. The lowest winter surface temperature of the sea is around 7°C but on rare occasions can be even lower. Temperatures rise in spring and reach around 18°C, and in summer rise to 22°C-25°C and in the southern Adriatic to 27°C. DEPTHS - The sea is the shallowest in Istria where maximum depth reaches only 50 m. From Pula, the sea bottom mildly lowers, creating a long and narrow valley, going from the island of Žirje towards Italy. This is called the Jabučka kotlina. The maximum depth reaches 240 m. From this area the seabed rises towards Palagruža Reef, lowering the maximum depth to 130 m. After this point the seabed lowers steeply towards South Adriatic Valley where the highest measured depth reaches 1,300 m.
TIDES - Tides have relatively small amplitudes in Adriatic. In the south area, the amplitudes rarely reach 40 cm, and in Istria and Bay of Trieste it rises up to about 1 m. In narrow channels and bays, high tides can get pretty high during the strong SW wind. This phenomenon is characteristic for large and deep bays of south Adriatic. Tides change on semidiurnal basis during the full and new moon and on daily basis during the first and last quarter. Their amplitudes are very irregular.
SEA CURRENTS - Sea currents are influenced by winds, changes in air pressure, temperatures and salinity of the sea but they don't change dramatically and do not have a significant influence on the safety of shipping. Sea currents are difficult to notice in the Adriatic. They are mostly felt when manoeuvring a boat in harbours or near river mouths. Their speed changes depending on the area and seasons. Average sped is about 0.5 knots, but sometimes they can reach speed of 4 knots.
SALINITY - Average salinity of the Adriatic Sea is on avarage 38.3‰. Near the coast and near river mouths the salinity is somewhat lower that this figure, and it is lower in the nothern compared to the central and southern Adriatic.
THE WAVES - Adriatic waves usually reach 0.5 – 1.5 m in height. Very rarely they rise above 5 m. Although they are not high, the waves in Adriatic can be very unpleasant, even dangerous, for smaller boats. Southern winds cause higher waves than the northern ones, but that doesn’t mean they are more dangerous. The highest wave ever measured caused by Jugo was 10.8 m, and from Bora 7.2 m.