The effect of water temperature and synoptic winds on the development of surface flows over narrow, elongated water bodies

Simulations of the thermally induced breeze involved with a relatively narrow, elongated water body is presented in conjunction with evaluations of sensible heat fluxes in a stable marine atmospheric surface layer. The effect of the water surface temperature and of the large‐scale synoptic winds on the development of surface flows over the water is examined. As implied by the sensible heat flux patterns, the simulation results reveal the following trends: (1) When the synoptic flow is absent or light, the induced surface breeze is not affected noticeably by a reduction of the water surface temperature; (2) for stronger synoptic flow, the resultant surface flow may be significantly affected by the water surface temperature.