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Why are beach waters so cold?

In the open ocean and along the shoreline, wind mixes the water around and brings water from the bottom of the ocean, which is cold and nutrient-rich, to the surface of the ocean.



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It depends on where you are. On the pacific coast of the US the ocean water is cold because it flows south from the gulf of Alaska. On the east coast the currents bring water from the south and it is comfortably warm from Florida to Maryland in the summer.

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Water has a higher heat capacity than soil and rock, so the ocean takes much longer to heat and to cool than the land. Coastal areas will generally have more moderate temperatures than inland areas because of the heat capacity of the ocean.

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Yes, 75 and cloudy is quite comfortable for swimming as well as many other activities. Ideally the water will be a similar temperature or slightly warmer. If it is particularly cold just be sure not to stay in too long.

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Ocean currents in the Subtropical Gyre transport cooler waters from the northeast Pacific to the west and south, warming as it moves to the subtropical Pacific and the vicinity of Hawai'i. Similarly, warm water from the western subtropical Pacific is transported towards Japan, cooling as it moves northward.

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It Makes You Healthier There are more positive impacts to living near the ocean than you might think. Outside of the obvious benefits, like being able to work on your tan whenever you want, the fresh air and vitamin D are great for your health.

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