Mobasher

The reformation time of the temperature gradient within the thermal skin layer of the sea surface (top few hundred microns to a few millimeters) after a disruptive event such as wave breaking is calculated. X theoretical model of the heat transfer mechanisms in the skin layer is developed which takes into account molecular conduction, emission of IR, radiation within the water, the evaporation of water, sensible heat flux and net IR emission at the water-atmosphere interface. The time for the skin to develop fully after the cessation of a disruptive event such as wave breaking. is found to be dependent upon the skin thickness. Vsing equations developed by Fedorov and Ginsburg [I9921 for the skin thickness, the skin reformation time is calculated for different net heat fluxes, wind speeds and water temperatures. It was found that the reformation time may be as large as 40 seconds for small values of net heat flux, low wind speed and low water temperature , and in the order of 1 second for higher wind speeds and higher water temperature . In order to determine if the skin will reform fully, it is necessary to determine if the mean time between disruptive events is greater or less than the reformation time. It is concluded that the wide range of the coefficient of proportionality X in the equation ---- reported in the literature may be partly attributable to measurements being taken when the skin layer was not fully developed.