SOHFI: Skin-layer Ocean Heat Flux Instrument (SOHFI)
Because ocean heat flux forcing is clearly a major factor in the development of circulation systems over the entire globe, an untended instrument to measure ocean surface heat flux. It was developed for use in support of field experiments and the investigation of heat flux parameterization techniques. The sensing component of the Skin-Layer Ocean Heat Flux Instrument (SOHFI) consisted of two simple thermopile heat flux sensors suspended by a fiberglass mesh mounted inside a ring-shaped surface float. These sensors made direct measurements within the conduction layer, where they were held in place by a balance between surface tension and float buoyancy. The two sensors were designed with differing solar absorption properties so that surface heat flux could be distinguished from direct solar irradiance. Under laboratory conditions, the SOHFI measurements agreed well with calorimetric measurements (generally to within 10%). Performance in freshwater and ocean environments is discussed in a companion paper.
From: Sromovsky, L.A., et al. The Skin-Layer Ocean Heat Flux Instrument (SOHFI). Part I: Design and Laboratory Characterization. Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology v.16, no.9, September 1999, 1224-1238.
Investigators
- Dr. Lawrence Sromovsky Space Science and Engineering Center (SSEC)
Related Websites
Publications
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Boyle, J. P. Air-sea surface heat flux, solar irradiance and surface temperature measurement using an in-situ sensor. Conference on Interaction of the Sea and Atmosphere, 10th, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 29 May-2 June 2000 (preprints). Boston, MA, American Meteorological Society, 2000, pp31-32. Reprint #3841.
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Boyle, James P. Lake/ocean surface heat flux measurement from the aqueous thermal boundary layer. Madison, WI, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Physics, 1999. xi, 155p. Ph.D. thesis. UW SSEC Publication No.99.00.B1.
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Boyle, J. P. Solar radiation calibration and modeling studies for an in-situ lake/ocean surface heat flux sensor. Conference on Atmospheric Radiation, 10th: A Symposium with tributes to the works of Verner E. Suomi, Madison, WI, 28 June-2 July 1999 (preprints). Boston, MA, American Meteorological Society, 1999, pp478-481. Reprint #2591.
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Sromovsky, L. A.; Anderson, J. R.; Best, F. A.; Boyle, J. P.; Sisko, C. A., and Suomi, V. E. The Skin-layer Ocean Heat Flux Instrument (SOHFI). Part I: Design and laboratory characterization. Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology v.16, no.9, 1999, pp1224-1238. Reprint #2630.
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Sromovsky, L. A.; Anderson, J. R.; Best, F. A.; Boyle, J. P.; Sisko, C. A., and Suomi, V. E. The Skin-layer Ocean Heat Flux Instrument (SOHFI). Part II: Field measurements of surface heat flux and solar irradiance. Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology v.16, no.9, 1999, pp1239-1254. Reprint #2631.
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Suomi, V. E.; Sromovsky, L. A., and Anderson, J. R. Measuring ocean-atmosphere heat flux with a new in-situ sensor. Conference on Air-Sea Interaction, 8th, and Symposium on Global Ocean-Atmosphere-Land Systems (GOALS), Atlanta, GA, 28 January-2 February 1996 (preprints). Boston, MA, American Meteorological Society, 1996, pp38-42. Reprint #2102.
Images
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Verner E. Suomi with the Skin-layer Ocean Heat Flux Instrument (SOFHI)
University of Wisconsin-Madison Archives
