Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION
General discussion of the principles and equations governing
ocean-atmosphere interactions sets the stage for the main subject
of this book.
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 The Ocean Near-Surface Layer in the OceanAtmosphere System
The top 2-3 m of the ocean has the same heat capacity as the entire
atmosphere above. Of the penetrating solar radiation, 50% is absorbed
within the first 0.5 m of the ocean. Of the breaking surface wave kinetic
energy, 50% dissipates within 20% of the significant wave height from the
surface. These facts highlight the special role of the near-surface layer of the
ocean in the ocean-atmosphere system.
Historically, standard oceanographic instruments (like CTDs, ADCPs,
and most types of turbulence profilers) have not produced high quality
measurements in the upper few meters of the ocean. As a result, important
processes in the near-surface layer of the ocean, like the large diurnal
warming event shown in Figure 1-1, were largely missed. The aim of this
monograph is to cover this gap to provide the reader with a more complete
picture of the upper ocean, which is of increasing importance for certain
practical applications such as remote sensing, climate modeling, and
determining the global carbon cycle.
We define the near-surface layer of the ocean as being immediately
adjacent to the air-sea interface and dominantly influenced by the local
fluxes of heat, moisture, momentum and gas from the atmosphere. It is
impossible to give a universal definition of this layer in meters because the
INTRODUCTION
General discussion of the principles and equations governing
ocean-atmosphere interactions sets the stage for the main subject
of this book.
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 The Ocean Near-Surface Layer in the OceanAtmosphere System
The top 2-3 m of the ocean has the same heat capacity as the entire
atmosphere above. Of the penetrating solar radiation, 50% is absorbed
within the first 0.5 m of the ocean. Of the breaking surface wave kinetic
energy, 50% dissipates within 20% of the significant wave height from the
surface. These facts highlight the special role of the near-surface layer of the
ocean in the ocean-atmosphere system.
Historically, standard oceanographic instruments (like CTDs, ADCPs,
and most types of turbulence profilers) have not produced high quality
measurements in the upper few meters of the ocean. As a result, important
processes in the near-surface layer of the ocean, like the large diurnal
warming event shown in Figure 1-1, were largely missed. The aim of this
monograph is to cover this gap to provide the reader with a more complete
picture of the upper ocean, which is of increasing importance for certain
practical applications such as remote sensing, climate modeling, and
determining the global carbon cycle.
We define the near-surface layer of the ocean as being immediately
adjacent to the air-sea interface and dominantly influenced by the local
fluxes of heat, moisture, momentum and gas from the atmosphere. It is
impossible to give a universal definition of this layer in meters because the