Dataset for: Scaling laws for the upper ocean temperature dissipation rate

Using high-resolution optical turbulence measurements, scaling laws for Chi are investigated under forcing states where either the daytime heat flux or the wind stress forcing is dominant. We find that Chi remains constant over 1.5 times the significant wave height, while over a layer below, Chi decays based on the local surface forcing. When the heat flux is dominant, traditional scaling based on the Monin-Obukhov similarity theory remains valid; Chi ∝ z^−1. When the wind stress dominates, we observe the emergence of a new scaling, Chi ∝ z^−1∕2, which is explained by invoking the effect of small-scale coherent structures on vertical heat transport. This dataset reports wind forcing, dissipation with associated depth (pressure) during the Grand Lagrangian Experiment (GLAD) July 2012. These results have implications for improved modeling of the ocean’s heat and CO2 intake. This dataset was created to support the publication Bogucki, D., et al. 2015. Scaling laws for the upper ocean temperature dissipation rate, Geophysical Research Letters doi: 10.1002/2014GL062235.