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Can The Gulf Freeze??
- Thread starter Gidget
- Start date
Matt J
SWGB
Most likely, the Gulf is salt water and thus lowers the temperature that it freezes at. However if you use the salinity from link one in the lowest point put it in the calculator and use a PSI of 0 since it's surface level then you come out with around 29 degrees. So it is possible.
Is water from the Gulf of Mexico high-salinity or low-salinity? - Yahoo! Answers
Ocean Water Freezing Point Calculator
Is water from the Gulf of Mexico high-salinity or low-salinity? - Yahoo! Answers
Ocean Water Freezing Point Calculator
30ashopper
SoWal Insider
Pools on the beach and inland lakes probably did last night, but the gulf of mexico as a whole is quite warm even in winter, which would prevent ice sheets from forming.
Here's a map of current temps as measured by weather buoys:
NODC Coastal Water Temperature Guide
Here's a map of current temps as measured by weather buoys:
NODC Coastal Water Temperature Guide
Smiling JOe
SoWal Expert
Gulf temps aren't likely even at 50F degrees right now, so not likely ice that you are seeing in the Gulf.
edit: thanks for the water temp links. bouys south of PC show water temp at 55F and 67F degrees as of today. Pensacola bouy close to shore, shows a bit lower temp of 42F today, but as SWGB said, salt water has a lower freezing temp than water with no salinity.
edit: thanks for the water temp links. bouys south of PC show water temp at 55F and 67F degrees as of today. Pensacola bouy close to shore, shows a bit lower temp of 42F today, but as SWGB said, salt water has a lower freezing temp than water with no salinity.
Smiling JOe
SoWal Expert
They should do a Polar Bear Plunge II for REAL today. BRRRR!
Matt J
SWGB
I don't think Eastern Lake is much warmer, but we've seen surface ice now for days. Granted it melts by around noon or 1, but it's still forming. It wouldn't surprise me at all if there was ice in the gulf.
In fact with a currently predicted low of 19 degrees Fahrenheit for tonight I'm betting it'll be there tomorrow morning.
Also Gidget is currently renting in Destin which is closer to the pass, this allows more fresh water from the bay and river into the gulf thus lowering the salinity level. Look at the link I provided for salinity. I used the lower amount since we are close to a fresh water outlet. With the last two months of rain in the area I'm betting that there's a good chance the salinity is even lower. Keep in mind that salt water sinks below fresh water due to the greater weight with salt dissolved in it.
Last edited:
30A Skunkape
Skunky
Here is a photo from Blue Mountain this morning. No ice, but if you stare hard, you might be able to see the warm gulf and cold air interfacing as 'steam'.