ESMD Method for Frequency Distribution of Tank Surface Temperature under Wind Effect

Abstract

Due to the poor understanding of the small-scale processes at the air-water interface, some lab experiments are done in a water tank by infrared techniques. With the help of ESMD method, the stochastic temperature sequences extracted from the infrared photographs are decomposed into several empirical modes of general periodic forms. The corresponding analyses on the modes reveal that, within certain limits, both spatial and temporal frequencies increase along the wind speed. As for the amplitudes, the existence of wind may result in fold increasing of their values. In addition, when the wind speed is added from 4 m/s to 5 m/s, both frequency and amplitude of the surface temperature decrease and it implies an enhanced mixing and a weakened temperature gradient under the force of wind blowing.