Navigation Information

WEATHER

WINDS

The prevailing winds in the Bay and coast of Iquique Tarapacá are those of the SSW to SSE. They blow almost constantly throughout the year. Are of a fair and experiment turns fairly uniform as the time of day or night.

Locally called virazón (sea breeze or breeze diurnal) or Terral (PUELCHE, breeze or land breeze at night) as blow from the outside or from earth as it is inclined toward the W or E of the SEE.

Virazón or the sea breeze usually starts from 10:00 to 12:00 am and usually lasts until sunset, when it does and makes a gradual turn toward land, becoming in Terral. The latter is often windy and wet and loose more blows until dawn.

The virazón is all the more sluggish the longer stands, and more blows from outside. If it starts blowing early is always cooler and more durable. The Terral virazón and are separated from the coast, usually in an area of calm, more or less long.

In the winter months (April to August) are felt in the morning, near the coast, Ventolin fourth quarter, which rarely last long, not so common from 5 to 6 hours. Very rarely Ventolin blow NW with some force in these cases occur wildness on the coast, usually in winter months (June to August) to reach 3 or 4 strength.

The calm is more frequent in the summer season (November to March), but in the mornings are usually calm experienced near the coast and last until 10:00 to 11:00 hours. Usually last 2 or 3 days.

FOG

Arise more frequently from December to March, is generally weak and low, being a danger to navigation.

CONDITIONS OF THE SEA

Iquique Bay is sheltered and well protected from prevailing winds on the second and third quadrant of the high chain of hills near the southern tip and ending in the peninsula and Gruesa Serrano. Tides of Change:

Of 1.50 meters in sicigias. Tidal fluctuations to the port of Iquique can be known through the Interior Sea.

Density of water in springs:1025.

CURRENT TIDES

The overall direction of flow is from south to north, and runs at a speed ranging between 0.5 and 3 knots along the coast inflections. This current is strongest in Gruesa tip reaching to 2 knots. There is also a stream that comes from slight edge stones along the coastline and which is felt even in rocky Patilliguaje.

WILDNESS

Almost certain indication of wildness is the yellowish foam that emerges from the tip of Restingas and moving towards the beach. As a general rule should be accepted that time in the South, wildness occurs after two or four days in Iquique. The wildness of the sea rose more frequently in the months of May through September, but its action is perceived very attenuated within the area protected by Molo de Abrigo. North wind and even with gentle breezes, storm surge that originates in the lower peninsula of Serrano, entered the port sector.