The effects of a measuring platform and atmospheric instability modifying diurnal development of vertical temperature gradient in the vicinity of the sea surface, under weak wind and clear sky conditions

The authors have simulated large vertical seawater temperature gradient in the vicinity of the sea surface using simple one-dimensional models. Wind speed and insolation are the primary factors to determine the temperature difference between 0- and 1-m depths. Under weak wind and clear conditions, buoy-observed sea surface temperatures in the daytimes are higher than the simulated ones. It is inferred that the reason is that the hull of the buoy disturbed the temperature fields near the sea surface. Besides wind speed and insolation, atmospheric stability also controls the development of the vertical temperature gradient