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Temperature
The
average temperature of Narragansett Bay ranges from 0°C (32°F)
in winter to 20°C (68°F) in summer. Greenwich Bay, which is shallow
in comparison to the rest of Narragansett Bay, often has summer temperatures
that are even higher.
In general, the temperature of water in estuaries such as Greenwich Bay varies more than in open bodies of water. This is largely because they are usually shallower and have less water in them, therefore the temperature can change more rapidly. Temperature differences in estuaries may play a role in the circulation of water. Because cold water is more dense than warm water, it tends to sink. When water at the surface of a bay is cooled, that colder water sinks to the bottom. This helps to mix the water column. Temperature is also critical to marine plants and animals. It is an important factor in the timing of the annual plankton cycle in Narragansett Bay. When the days get longer—meaning more hours of sunlight for photosynthesis—and the water warmer in the late winter and early spring, phytoplankton start to bloom. This provides food for myriad animals, who in turn provide food for higher levels in the food chain. Breeding of most animals takes place in the spring, when food supplies such as plankton (both plant and animal) are growing and water temperatures increase. The activity rate of many animals is also controlled by temperature—they shut down or decrease activity in the winter and become more active in the spring and summer. Some animals are able to withstand large fluctuations in temperature, while others may die easily if temperatures change dramatically.The relationship between temperature and oxygen is also a critical one. Cold water can hold more dissolved oxygen than warm water can, and this can be critical to animal life in Greenwich Bay.
In general, the temperature of water in estuaries such as Greenwich Bay varies more than in open bodies of water. This is largely because they are usually shallower and have less water in them, therefore the temperature can change more rapidly. Temperature differences in estuaries may play a role in the circulation of water. Because cold water is more dense than warm water, it tends to sink. When water at the surface of a bay is cooled, that colder water sinks to the bottom. This helps to mix the water column. Temperature is also critical to marine plants and animals. It is an important factor in the timing of the annual plankton cycle in Narragansett Bay. When the days get longer—meaning more hours of sunlight for photosynthesis—and the water warmer in the late winter and early spring, phytoplankton start to bloom. This provides food for myriad animals, who in turn provide food for higher levels in the food chain. Breeding of most animals takes place in the spring, when food supplies such as plankton (both plant and animal) are growing and water temperatures increase. The activity rate of many animals is also controlled by temperature—they shut down or decrease activity in the winter and become more active in the spring and summer. Some animals are able to withstand large fluctuations in temperature, while others may die easily if temperatures change dramatically.The relationship between temperature and oxygen is also a critical one. Cold water can hold more dissolved oxygen than warm water can, and this can be critical to animal life in Greenwich Bay.