Will Water Warm Quicker on Windy or Calm Days?

[Sandwich Maker]

All things equal, do you feel water will warm up quicker on calm days or windy ones? Of course I'm talking about when the air temp is warmer than the water temp.

[bigfish5]

Water Warms Quicker On Calm Days.

[CrappieHound]

That is correct. Wind is a cooling agent. The sun can penetrate calm water more effectively than water that is being blown by wind.

The Hound

[Cane Pole]

That is correct. Wind is a cooling agent.

If so, why does my ice cream melt on windy days?

[CrappiePappy]

If so, why does my ice cream melt on windy days?

You know perfectly well that your ice cream melts just as bad, on calm days :p

You may be retired ... but, the teacher in you is still "working" ... always trying to make us "think"

... cp

[jem270]

I would think one of three possibilities would be probable:

1. Windy conditions would make waves and increase surface area of the water, which would make it warm faster.

2. Windy conditions would make waves which would reduce sun exposure to the bottom due to shade caused by the waves, and reduce temperature increase.

3. Windy conditions would have no effect on water temperature.

[CatFan]

The primary way that water cools is through evaporation. Energy is required for water to evaporate, and that energy comes from the remainder of the water. Wind will increase evaporation, so it will increase cooling.

[joejv4]

A lesson picked up from years of watching a phenomena that is fairly unique to the Great Lakes - Lake Effect precipitation - would indicate to me that wind would slow the warming through a couple different mechanisms.

First, by speeding evaporation. Wind over water generally causes faster evaporation and updrafts of the warm moist air from the water surface. For us, this creates a huge band of cumulonimbus clouds which dump massive amounts of snow or rain (depending on season) on the areas directly downwind of the water.

Second, the always moving and shifting faces of the waves caused by the wind will cause more sunlight (and solar energy) to be reflected away from the water and more importantly the bottom, where it would be absorbed on a calm day. Even with a warm wind, the temperature mixing that occurs at the surface (which theoretically could raise the water temperature) is offset by increased evaporation.

So, if I'm waiting for water temps to come up, I'm looking for a couple sunny days with little or no wind.

[klight1122]

I got a headache from reading this. It reminds me of being back in school.....I have a sudden urge to take a nap! ZZZZZZZZZZ Seriously that is fascinating.

[Wiskers]

If so, why does my ice cream melt on windy days?

Cane Pole you just ain't right! :D You crack me up!