Heat Budget and Thermodynamics at a Free Surface

Ben R. Hodges

Abstract:

Heat transfer at a free surface is generally classified according to classical concepts of heat transfer: radiation, convection, conduction, and evaporation.  For numerical modeling of water surface heat fluxes, it is convenient to classify heat transfer in terms of its ability to penetrate the water surface.  Evaporation, conduction, and long wave radiation are all surface heat transfer effects that heat occur only at the surface of the water.  Short-wave radiation is a penetrative effect that distributes its heat through a significant range of the water column.  This paper outlines the primary models of heat transfer that are being used in the CWR suite of numerical models.