Modeling and Experimental Investigation of the Evolution of Surface Temperature Fields in Water Bodies

The variation in the background temperature field in aquatic environments plays a crucial role in the detection of thermal signatures of maritime moving targets. To elucidate the influence of various meteorological and hydrological parameters on the background temperature field of water bodies, this study employs the COARE 3.0 model to analyze the relationship between the net heat flux at the air–water interface and the characteristics of the cool skin layer. By examining the diurnal fluctuations of environmental parameters, the diurnal variation patterns of the cool skin layer properties are investigated. A dynamic temperature field testing platform was established in an outdoor pool to measure air–water volume variables and validate the accuracy of the water temperature field calculation model. The findings indicate that the cool skin phenomenon is indeed present in natural aquatic environments. The properties of the cool skin layer are predominantly affected by factors such as wind speed, the specific humidity gradient between the near-surface and high-altitude regions, and the temperature gradient between these regions. The temperature of the cool skin layer is typically a few tenths of K lower than that of the subsurface water, with a thickness generally ranging from 2 to 5 mm.