 have dimensions
                   (x, y, sigma, time).
                   - inputConf.polcoms_z - location of NOC Operational
                   Model output containing 4D variables of bathymetry
                   (XXX) and sigma layer thickness (XXX).
                   - inputConf.startDate - start date and time for FVCOM
                   model run
 
 OUTPUT:
    restart = MATLAB structure which contains three fields (called
              temperature, salinity and ts_time). temperature and salinity
 