Study on a Platform Effect in the In Situ Sea Surface Temperature Observations under Weak Wind and Clear Sky Conditions Using Numerical Models

Abstract

Abstract Estimation of the vertical sea water temperature difference between 0- and 1-m depths is necessary to validate the accuracy of satellite-derived sea surface temperatures (SSTs). The authors have examined diurnal temperature variations in the sea surface layer under weak wind and clear sky conditions by two kinds of numerical models. Under such conditions, a large temperature gradient develops in the vicinity of the sea surface and little turbulence is induced by wind stress mixing. The vertical temperature profiles between 0- and 2-m depths observed with a sea surface temperature profiler buoy (SSTPB) are well simulated by the models. SSTPB was specially designed not to disturb the water column in the vicinity of the surface. However, the 1-m-depth temperatures simulated by the models do not agree with that observed with a buoy under weak wind conditions. The hull of buoy is large and can be inferred to generate turbulence in the near-surface layer through the interaction with the swell, wind wav...