Sea water effect on air temperature close to the surface

[Sindresu]

Hi! I have a question within thermodynamics. I'll give three different scenarios.

1) Air temperature is higher than the sea temperature. Example: Sea water is 15 degrees, air temperature is 25 degrees.

2) Air temperature is lower than the sea temperature. Example: Sea water is 15 degrees, air temperature is 10 degrees.

3) Air temperature is the same as sea water temperature.

 

How will the air temperature right above the sea water be affected by the sea water in these scenarios. I am interested in the temperature differences at surface, and up to around 70 cm above the surface. The reason I am wondering, is because I am writing a paper on the cooling effect on floating solar panels. I've noticed some of the panels are in direct contact with the water, while others are maybe 30 cm above the water surface. My target is to find out how much of a difference there will be in ambient temperature on the solar panels, if they were to touch the water surface compared to if they're just exposed to the air right above the sea surface (30-70 cm). How much is the air temperature affected by the sea surface?

 

Hope you understand my question and can give a decent answer!

Edited February 28, 2018 by Sindresu
writing error

[mistermack]

From an engineering point of view, it would be pretty futile to try to calculate the effects, when there are so many variables such as wind and humidity and cloud cover and wave action etc etc.

It sounds to me like a practical study would need to be done and statistics gathered.

[WheelBarrow]

As for example. The gulf stream will form A warm core eddy from winds and upwelling.

This eddy will blow into the continental shelf. As the breeze passes by this warm core

eddy. You will now feel pockets of warm air pass by.

[druS]

An engineer's view: It's not really a question of thermodynamics, I suspect. And it's not just relative.

I think you want to know more about the humidity of the air, and the air movement. Relative temperature will have an impact, but not as much as humidity and wind. Then add in sea spray.

Which means I'm with mistermack.