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Intercomparison of Latent Heat Fluxes Over Global OceansTurbulent fluxes of momentum, moisture, and heat at the air-sea interface are essential for climate studies. Version 2 Goddard Satellite-based Surface Turbulent Fluxes (GSSTF2) has been derived from the Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) radiance measurements. This dataset, covering the period July 1987-December 2000 over global oceans, has a spatial resolution of 1 deg x 1 deg lat-long and a temporal resolution of 1 day. Turbulent fluxes are derived from the SSM/I surface winds and surface air humidity, as well as the 2-m air and sea surface temperatures (SST) of the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis, using a bulk aerodynamic algorithm based on the surface layer similarity theory. The GSSTF2 bulk flux model, and retrieved daily wind stress, latent heat flux, wind speed, and surface air humidity validate well with ship observations of ten field experiments over the tropical and midlatitude oceans during 1991-99. The global distributions of 1988-2000 annual- and seasonal-mean turbulent fluxes show reasonable patterns related to the atmospheric general circulation and seasonal variations. Latent heat fluxes and related input parameters over global oceans during 1992-93 have been compared among GSSTF1 (version 1), GSSTF2, HOAPS (Hamburg Ocean Atmosphere Parameters and Fluxes from Satellite Data), NCEP/NCAR reanalysis, and one based on COADS (Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set). Our analyses suggest that the GSSTF2 latent heat flux, surface air humidity, surface wind, and SST are quite realistic compared to the other four flux datasets examined. However, significant differences are found among these five flux datasets. The GSSTF2, available at http://daac.gsfc.nasa.gov/CAMPAIGN_DOCS/hydrology/hd_gsstf2.O.html, is useful for climate studies.
Document ID
20040015191
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Chou, Shu-Hsien
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Nelkin, Eric
(Science Systems and Applications, Inc. Lanham, MD, United States)
Ardizzone, Joe
(Science Applications International Corp. Laurel, MD, United States)
Atlas, Robert M.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Chou, Ming-Dah
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2003
Subject Category
Fluid Mechanics And Thermodynamics
Meeting Information
Meeting: IUGG 2003/JSP09
Location: Sapporo
Country: Japan
Start Date: June 30, 2003
End Date: July 11, 2003
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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