Size estimates of the factors controlling sea surface temperature with AVHRR data

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Abstract
NOAA AVHRR thermal infrared images, meteorological measurements and model calculations have been used to estimate the magnitude of the processes controlling the sea surface temperature variability in the Bay of Biscay. The estimates are based on the equation of temperature conservation and the equation for the total derivative. The results show that local time change, advection, horizontal diffusion and vertical turbulent flux vary with time and space. The sea surface temperature variability is mainly controlled by vertical turbulent flux and advection. For an average of five-day estimates, the order of the relative importance of the processes is vertical turbulence (38 per cent), advection (32 per cent), local time change (22 per cent) and horizontal diffusion (8 per cent).

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