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Trends and variations of ocean surface latent heat flux: Results from GSSTF2c data set
Author(s) -
Gao Si,
Chiu Long S.,
Shie ChungLin
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2012gl054620
Subject(s) - empirical orthogonal functions , latent heat , environmental science , humidity , wind speed , relative humidity , climatology , flux (metallurgy) , meteorology , atmospheric sciences , satellite , geography , geology , materials science , physics , astronomy , metallurgy
Trends and variations of Goddard Satellite‐based Surface Turbulent Fluxes (GSSTF) version 2c (GSSTF2c) latent heat flux (LHF) are examined. This version of LHF takes account of the correction in Earth incidence angle. The trend of global mean LHF for GSSTF2c is much reduced relative to GSSTF version 2b Set 1 and Set 2 for the same period 1988–2008. Temporal increase of GSSTF2c LHF in the two decades is 11.0%, in which 3.1%, 5.8%, and 2.1% are attributed to the increase in wind, the increase in sea surface saturated air humidity, and the decrease in near‐surface air humidity, respectively. The first empirical orthogonal function of LHF is a conventional El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) mode. However, the trends in LHF are independent of conventional ENSO phenomena. After removing ENSO signal, the pattern of LHF trends is primarily determined by the pattern of air‐sea humidity difference trends.