Investigating ocean surface responses to typhoons using reconstructed satellite data

Abstract Today, latent heat flux and precipitation over the global ocean surface can be determined from microwave satellite data as a basis for estimating the related fields of the ocean surface freshwater flux. The Hamburg Ocean Atmosphere Parameters and Fluxes from Satellite Data (HOAPS) is the only generally available satellite-based dataset with consistently derived global fields of both evaporation and precipitation and hence of freshwater flux for the period 1987–2005. This paper presents a comparison of the evaporation E, precipitation P, and the resulting freshwater flux E − P in HOAPS with recently available reference datasets from reanalysis and other satellite observation projects as well as in situ ship measurements. In addition, the humidity and wind speed input parameters for the evaporation are examined to identify sources for differences between the datasets. Results show that the general climatological patterns are reproduced by all datasets. Global mean time series often agree within about 10% of the individual products, while locally larger deviations may be found for all parameters. HOAPS often agrees better with the other satellite-derived datasets than with the in situ or the reanalysis data. The agreement usually improves in regions of good in situ sampling statistics. The biggest deviations of the evaporation parameter result from differences in the near-surface humidity estimates. The precipitation datasets exhibit large differences in highly variable regimes with the largest absolute differences in the ITCZ and the largest relative biases in the extratropical storm-track regions. The resulting freshwater flux estimates exhibit distinct differences in terms of global averages as well as regional biases. In comparison with long-term mean global river runoff data, the ocean surface freshwater balance is not closed by any of the compared fields. The datasets exhibit a positive bias in E − P of 0.2–0.5 mm day−1, which is on the order of 10% of the evaporation and precipitation estimates.

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Ocean surface layer drift revealed by satellite data

Eos ◽

10.1029/2002eo000039 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 83 (7) ◽

pp. 61 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Anthony K. Liu ◽

Yunhe Zhao ◽

Wayne E. Esaias ◽

Janet W. Campbell ◽

Timothy S. Moore

Keyword(s):

Surface Layer ◽

Satellite Data ◽

Ocean Surface ◽

Ocean Surface Layer

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A study of the stationary and the anomalous in the ocean surface chlorophyll distribution by satellite data

International Journal of Remote Sensing ◽

10.1080/01431160310001592337 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 25 (7-8) ◽

pp. 1383-1387 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

A. Shevyrnogov ◽

G. Vysotskaya ◽

E. Shevyrnogov

Keyword(s):

Satellite Data ◽

Ocean Surface ◽

Chlorophyll Distribution

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The Naval Research Laboratory Ocean Surface Flux (NFLUX) System: Satellite-Based Turbulent Heat Flux Products

Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology ◽

10.1175/jamc-d-15-0187.1 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 55 (5) ◽

pp. 1221-1237 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Jackie C. May ◽

Clark Rowley ◽

Neil Van de Voorde

Keyword(s):

Heat Flux ◽

Satellite Data ◽

Surface State ◽

Research Laboratory ◽

State Parameter ◽

Surface Flux ◽

Ocean Surface ◽

Turbulent Heat Flux ◽

Naval Research ◽

Turbulent Heat

AbstractThe Naval Research Laboratory ocean surface flux (NFLUX) system provides satellite-based surface state parameter and surface turbulent heat flux fields operationally over the global ocean. These products are presented as an alternative to using numerical weather prediction models—namely, the U.S. Navy Global Environmental Model (NAVGEM)—to provide the surface forcing to operational ocean models. NFLUX utilizes satellite sensor data records from the Special Sensor Microwave Imager/Sounder (SSMIS), the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A (AMSU-A), the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS), and the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer-2 (AMSR-2) sensors as well as satellite environmental data records from WindSat, the Advanced Scatterometers (ASCAT), and the Oceansat scatterometer (OSCAT). The satellite data are processed and translated into estimates of surface specific humidity, surface air temperature, and 10-m scalar wind speed. Two-dimensional variational analyses of quality-controlled satellite data, in combination with an atmospheric-model field, form global gridded surface state parameter fields. Bulk formulas are then applied to produce surface turbulent heat flux fields. Six-hourly analysis fields are created from 1 January 2013 through 31 December 2013. These fields are examined and validated against in situ data and NAVGEM. Overall, the NFLUX fields have a smaller bias, lower or similar root-mean-square error, and increased skill score relative to those of NAVGEM.

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