NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
The sensitivity of latent heat flux to the air humidity approximations used in ocean circulation modelsIn deriving the surface latent heat flux with the bulk formula for the thermal forcing of some ocean circulation models, two approximations are commonly made to bypass the use of atmospheric humidity in the formula. The first assumes a constant relative humidity, and the second supposes that the sea-air humidity difference varies linearly with the saturation humidity at sea surface temperature. Using climatological fields derived from the Marine Deck and long time series from ocean weather stations, the errors introduced by these two assumptions are examined. It is shown that the errors reach above 100 W/sq m over western boundary currents and 50 W/sq m over the tropical ocean. The two approximations also introduce erroneous seasonal and spatial variabilities with magnitudes over 50 percent of the observed variabilities.
Document ID
19900053179
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Liu, W. Timothy
(JPL Pasadena, CA, United States)
Niiler, Pearn P.
(California, University La Jolla, United States)
Date Acquired
August 14, 2013
Publication Date
June 15, 1990
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 95
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Oceanography
Accession Number
90A40234
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available