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A Multiyear Dataset of SSM/I-Derived Global Ocean Surface Turbulent FluxesThe surface turbulent fluxes of momentum, latent heat, and sensible heat over global oceans are essential to weather, climate and ocean problems. Evaporation is a key component of the hydrological cycle and the surface heat budget, while the wind stress is the major forcing for driving the oceanic circulation. The global air-sea fluxes of momentum, latent and sensible heat, radiation, and freshwater (precipitation-evaporation) are the forcing for driving oceanic circulation and, hence, are essential for understanding the general circulation of global oceans. The global air-sea fluxes are required for driving ocean models and validating coupled ocean-atmosphere global models. We have produced a 7.5-year (July 1987-December 1994) dataset of daily surface turbulent fluxes over the global oceans from the Special Sensor microwave/Imager (SSM/I) data. Daily turbulent fluxes were derived from daily data of SSM/I surface winds and specific humidity, National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) sea surface temperatures, and European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) air-sea temperature differences, using a stability-dependent bulk scheme. The retrieved instantaneous surface air humidity (with a 25-km resolution) validated well with that of the collocated radiosonde observations over the global oceans. Furthermore, the retrieved daily wind stresses and latent heat fluxes were found to agree well with that of the in situ measurements (IMET buoy, RV Moana Wave, and RV Wecoma) in the western Pacific warm pool during the TOGA COARE intensive observing period (November 1992-February 1993). The global distributions of 1988-94 seasonal-mean turbulent fluxes will be presented. In addition, the global distributions of 1990-93 annual-means turbulent fluxes and input variables will be compared with those of UWM/COADS covering the same period. The latter is based on the COADS (comprehensive ocean-atmosphere data set) and is recognized to be one of the best climatological analyses of fluxes derived from ship observations.
Document ID
20020001355
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Chou, Shu-Hsien
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Shie, Chung-Lin
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Atlas, Robert M.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Ardizzone, Joe
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Nelkin, Eric
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Einaudi, Franco
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2001
Subject Category
Oceanography
Meeting Information
Meeting: 11th Conference on Interactions of Sea and Atmosphere
Location: San Diego, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: May 14, 2001
End Date: May 18, 2001
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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