Sea surface effects on the sea surface temperature estimation by remote sensing—Part 2

By referring to the sea surface temperature profiler buoy (SSTPB) data observed in Mutsu Bay, this study showed under calm and strong sunshine conditions, the vertical water temperature profile near the sea surface bends abruptly, and sea surface temperature detected by satellite remote sensing is not necessarily coincident to the bulk sea surface temperature. Besides the atmospheric effect, this effect causes another error in the estimation of sea surface temperature by remote sensing data known as the sea surface effect (SSE). As a sequel to a former paper, this paper is concerned with the investigation of the conditions which occur in the apparent SSE. Statistical analyses were directed to the total data set of SSTPB. The amount of SSE was evaluated by the water temperature difference between the uppermost surface and 1 m depth, and apparent SSE was identified to when the absolute value of the difference is larger than 0·5 °C. Apparent SSE was observed in the season from May to September. Its occurrence rate in May and June was about 40 per cent of the total days, and about 20 per cent in July. SSE grew when wind speed was less than 2 m s−1 and the solar zenith angle is smaller than 30°. If either of those two conditions were violated, SSE easily transferred into reducing phase.