Cyprus-Forum.com

[skyvet]

Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that the seas (well around Oroklini/Larnaca/Dhekelia anyway) seem rougher than usual this year? I seem to remember over the last 2 summers that the sea was like a glass table-top, yet this year it's the opposite.
Explanation anyone??

[DT.]

erm...the wind's blowing a bit more?

[skyvet]

Good point DT, but I think it's something more than that - maybe something seismic??
Congratulations on the birth of your daughter by the way!!

[kafenes]

Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that the seas (well around Oroklini/Larnaca/Dhekelia anyway) seem rougher than usual this year? I seem to remember over the last 2 summers that the sea was like a glass table-top, yet this year it's the opposite.
Explanation anyone??

Every time I dive in the sea at Paphos, it seems to create waves in Larnaca.

[DT.]

Good point DT, but I think it's something more than that - maybe something seismic??
Congratulations on the birth of your daughter by the way!!

thanks mate...there have been a few earthquakes recently. Think we're due for a tsunami?

[Hazza]

Took a walk down there last night and have to agree with you, the see looked very choppy, though it was good to look at and listen to. Sat there for half an hour or so at the bottom of the lifeguards hut on the step, just watching it, listening to it in the peace and quiet.

[Get Real!]

Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that the seas (well around Oroklini/Larnaca/Dhekelia anyway) seem rougher than usual this year? I seem to remember over the last 2 summers that the sea was like a glass table-top, yet this year it's the opposite.
Explanation anyone??

Every time I dive in the sea at Paphos, it seems to create waves in Larnaca.

Well there's the tidal wave culprit!

[kafenes]

Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that the seas (well around Oroklini/Larnaca/Dhekelia anyway) seem rougher than usual this year? I seem to remember over the last 2 summers that the sea was like a glass table-top, yet this year it's the opposite.
Explanation anyone??

Every time I dive in the sea at Paphos, it seems to create waves in Larnaca.

Well there's the tidal wave culprit!

I should consider changing my nick to 'tsunami'

[devil]

Seismic? No way! This year we have had a trough of low pressure sitting over us for a few weeks. It is this that has been causing the horrible high humidity. It does not take much imagination to realise that water does not find its own level if one end of the Med is under a low pressure and the other end under a high pressure. The latter will push the water towards the low pressure, so the water level will be unusually high round this island.

Now, the low pressure has some other effects. It will exacerbate the effect of those convection cells called sea breezes. As the land heats more rapidly than the sea, after mid-morning, this will heat the air which will become less dense and rise. As Nature abhors a vacuum, cooler air will rush in from the sea, causing the sea to become agitated. This is why the coastal towns are cooler and more humid in summer, compared to inland. If the synoptic wind is in the same direction as the sea breeze, then the effect can be quite violent: we have had a number of days when the synoptic wind has been easterly. When this happens, water is pushed into the Bay of Larnaca, causing the level to rise even farther (the total level may be as high as ~10-15 cm above average; this doesn't sound much, but it is enough to cause the effects you have seen).

So your "problem" is due to weather, nothing more nor less.

If you are interested, I have recently added a page explaining the weather where we are (http://www.cypenv.org/wxfcast/explanations.htm) as an addition to my weather forecasts but this is more specific to 20 km inland from Larnaca. However, it will give you a general idea.

I have broken three records in late July since I started measuring the weather at this location over 2 years ago (+ one in early July!):

Max temperature 42.4 °C 28.7.2007
Highest heat index 48.2 °C 31.7.2007
Min humidity 7% 9.7.2007
Min pressure 997.9 hPa 30.7.2007

[skyvet]

Devil - you're a star! Thanks for the info, and I shall be checking out your website. Thanks too to those others that responded ("Tsunami" Kafenes especially for his honesty!!) LOL