THE INTERPRETATION OF INFRARED RADIATION FROM THE SEA IN TERMS OF ITS BOUNDARY LAYER,
Abstract
By writing down the heat balance due to radiation, conduction, and evaporation at the sea surface, one can express the radiation temperature of the sea surface as a linear function with known coefficients of two variables: the water boundary layer thickness and the ratio of water to air boundary layer thickness. Under the assumption that these two variables can be described by laminar flow for short distance (less than 10 cm) and small intervals (less than 1 sec), one can derive the conditions for optimum observation of detailed structure in the sea surface temperature. These are clear sky, dry air, and especially an appreciable wind. Calculations were made of the small changes in the radiation temperature of the sea produced by mean air velocity changes of 1 cm/sec and mean water velocity changes of 1 mm/sec. Predictions were made concerning the temperature patterns to be observed around known velocity patterns in the air and water. The signs of temperature fluctuations around some patterns may be reversed depending upon whether radiation or evaporation is dominant. Much experimentation is necessary to check and enlarge the conclusions. For example, slicks would generally be expected to be cold patches, even though they may have properties which raise the surface temperature, and studies of slicks would be a good test of the theory. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 16, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0428543
Entities
People
- M. F. M. Osborne
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory