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ISSN Online: 2377-424X

ISBN Print: 0-89116-130-9

International Heat Transfer Conference 6
August, 7-11, 1978, Toronto, Canada

COUPLED ENERGY TRANSFER AND TRANSFORMATION MECHANISMS ACROSS THE OCEAN-ATMOSPHERE INTERFACE

Get access (open in a dialog) DOI: 10.1615/IHTC6.2390
pages 73-87

Sinopsis

After their importance for our natural environment has been briefly recalled, the various physical mechanisms responsible for energy transfers between the atmospheric boundary layer and the oceanic mixed layer are here presented. First of all, radiative processes are examined; particularly, the absorption of solar radiation in the surface oceanic layers, and the infra-red radiation exchanges from the boundary and inside of the lower atmosphere. The two essential mechanisms of turbulent heat transfer are then considered: sensible heat transfer within the liquid and gaseous phases, latent heat transfer associated with evaporation and turbulent convection of water vapour between the ocean and the atmosphere. Lastly, turbulent transfer of mechanical energy is discussed, and its relations with the atmospheric boundary layer's dynamical structure and the wave and drift current generation processes.
The numerous and important couplings that exist between these different mechanisms are systematically emphasized: interactions between the kinetic energy and internal energies turbulent transfers, via turbulent diffusion and stratification; interactions between turbulent and radiative sensible heat transfers; relationships between heat and mass exchanges, especially during phase changes, etc. In conclusion, the similarities existing between these geophysical mechanisms and the more classical processes of simultaneous heat and mass exchanges are underlined, as well as the advantages one can expect from a comparative study of the two categories of problems.