Exploring the Seas around the British Isles
The coastal waters of British Isles are warmed by the North Atlantic drift which originates from Gulf Stream near the Equator bringing exotic fish and other species to the southern and western coasts of the British Isles. Hence the milder climate the British Isles has compared to other landmasses at this latitude, pack your umbrella though we tend to get more rain than snow!
The Seasons
Coastal water temperatures are usually a season behind land temperatures, we have four distinct seasons Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter each three months long and during the summer there is only 4-5 hours of darkness. The Sea Temperature ranges from 4-5C in the winter months rising to 15-20C in August and September.
Scotland is known for its rich green waters and in May / June the nutrient rich surface waters are filled with algal blooms which provide the basis for the Food Chains in the oceans the coastal waters become populated with schools of fish that have migrated from deeper waters during the winter.
Habitats and Marine Ecosystems
The British coastline varies considerably from Sea Cliffs, Rocky Reefs, Beaches, Sand dunes, Salt Marshes and Estuaries. In the UK we have diurnal (twice a day) tides the difference between high and low tide typically is about 4-6m but can be as much as 12m in some areas; So if you are exploring the coastline it is good to be aware of what the tides are doing so you don't get stranded! A good resource to check the weather and tides is the BBC website www.bbc.co.uk/weather/coast/
This bit of land between High and Low Tides is called the intertidal zone ( Or littoral zone) and it is a difficult place to live as plants and animals need to cope with the battering of waves and dramatic changes in temperature and humidity! A great place to start exploring our coastline are the many rock pools that are created when the tide goes out creating temporary islands for small fish, crabs, shrimps and prawns.
Once you start wading and Snorkelling in the sea you are looking on the start of the Shallow seas that surround continent and Islands, these seas are very productive when compared to the open oceans which stretch out on the continental plate.