Abstract
Governing equations for interactive mixed layers above and below the air-sea interface are listed and discussed. It is shown that the atmospheric layer depth affects the magnitude of the stress and the Ekman mass transport in both fluids. A correction formula to compensate for an arbitrary choice of the atmospheric layer depth is developed. Although the tropical ocean supplies much more latent than sensible heat to the atmosphere, the thickness of the atmospheric mixed layer is predominantly a function of the sensible heat flux. This amplifies the energy amount which the atmospheric layer contains and transports. It makes the development very sensitive to relatively small changes in sea-surface temperature. The interactive evolution of the oceanic and atmospheric boundary layers in the stratus-covered source regions of the trades is discussed. Sensitivity tests show the development to be strongly affected by the upstream boundary conditions and by the advection velocities in the two fluids.
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