High-resolution satellite surface latent heat fluxes in North Atlantic hurricanes

• Other Authors: Liu, Jiping (authoraut), Curry, Judith A. (authoraut), Clayson, Carol Anne (authoraut), Bourassa, Mark (authoraut)
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: Atmospheric sciences; Meteorology; Oceanography; North Atlantic
• Online Access: https://diginole.lib.fsu.edu/islandora/object/fsu%3A209871/datastream/TN/view/High-resolution%20satellite%20surface%20latent%20heat%20fluxes%20in%20North%20Atlantic%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20hurricanes.jpg

This study presents a new high-resolution satellite-derived ocean surface flux product, XSeaFlux, which is evaluated for its potential use in hurricane studies. The XSeaFlux employs new satellite data sets using improved retrieval methods, and uses a new bulk flux algorithm formulated for high wind conditions. The XSeaFlux latent heat flux (LHF) performs much better than the existing numerical weather prediction reanalysis and satellite-derived flux products in a comparison with measurements from the Coupled Boundary Layer Air-Sea Transfer (CBLAST) field experiment. Also, the XSeaFlux shows well-organized LHF structure and large LHF values in response to hurricane conditions relative to the other flux products. The XSeaFlux data set is used to interpret details of the ocean surface LHF for selected North Atlantic hurricanes. Analysis of the XSeaFlux data set suggests that ocean waves, sea spray, and cold wake have substantial impacts on LHF associated with the hurricanes. Keywords: Hurricanes, Satellite observations, North Atlantic Ocean, Fluxes, Air-sea interaction Note: Copyright [2011] American Meteorological Society. Citation: Liu, J., J. A. Curry, C. A. Clayson, and M. A. Bourassa (2011), High-resolution satellite surface latent heat fluxes in North Atlantic hurricanes, Journal of Geophysical Research, doi:10.1175/2011MWR3548.1.