The net energy budget at the ocean‐atmosphere interface of the “Cold Tongue” region

Abstract

Pacific “Cold Tongue” (PCT) sea surface temperature (SST) experiences significant (>0.5°C) interannual variations forced by the El‐Nino Southern Oscillations (ENSO) with global impacts on the Earth climate. In this study, we estimate the PCT net heat budget known to be difficult to derive using numerical models. The main goal is to determine how accurately the net heat flux across the surface/atmosphere interface can currently be determined primarily, from satellite observations; these are first evaluated against the nearest available observations inside and outside the PCT of the Tropical Pacific Ocean, using buoy arrays such as the Tropical Atmosphere Ocean/Triangle Trans‐Ocean Buoy Network (TAO/TRITON). It was found that the satellite‐based estimates of both turbulent and radiative fluxes are in better agreement with the observations than similar estimates from leading numerical models. The monthly mean satellite estimates of PCT SW↓ during January/July 2009 were 273.07/170.14, for LW↓, latent heat and sensible heat they were 378.79/365.54, 95.52/130.31, 9.89/20.67, respectively (all in W/m2). The estimated standard deviations for PCT SW↓ were in the range of 7.2–7.8% of the mean and in the range of 2.0–2.5% for LW↓, at daily time scale. Satellite estimates of both PCT LHF and SHF exhibit much higher variability, characterized by standard deviations of 50% from the mean values.

Evaluating Surface Radiation Fluxes Observed From Satellites in the Southeastern Pacific Ocean

“…The observations from ORS meet challenges facing the satellite community. In this study, we found excellent Pinker, Bentamy, et al (2017) and Pinker, Grodsky, et al (2017)). Location of STRATUS buoy is also shown as a black dot.…”

“…Correlations between Nino3 and (top) UMD_MODIS_SW (SW↓) and (bottom) UMD_MODIS_LW (LW↓) fluxes. Period: July 1983 to December 2012 (these longer time series are described in Pinker, Bentamy, et al () and Pinker, Grodsky, et al ()). Location of STRATUS buoy is also shown as a black dot.…”

Evaluation of surface shortwave and longwave downwelling radiations over the global tropical oceans

“…Reanalysis products are mostly comparable to each other due to their assimilation of common observations and their similar physical assumptions. Evaluation of the surface radiation fluxes with buoy observations in the Southeastern Pacific Ocean during 2000-2012 [75] and at the Pacific "Cold Tongue" of the Tropical Pacific Ocean concluded that satellite data match well with the observations which is followed by reanalysis data than the model data [72,74]. Pinker et al [70,73] compared the heat budgets derived at the ocean-atmosphere interface from satellites and blended products, with in situ observations in the Atlantic during [2003][2004][2005].…”

Mixed-layer Heat Budget in Western and Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean during El Niño Event in 2015/2016

“…A recent study by Song and Yu [4] determined that heat flux diffusion, sun penetration, and zonal advection are the main factors that influence SST changes in the western Pacific. Meanwhile, in the eastern region, Pinker et al [5] identified significant temporal (seasonal) variations in the LHF and SHF over the Pacific cold tongue. Pinker et al [5] also suggested a relationship between SWR, which was affected by cloud cover, and LWR, which was affected by moisture.…”

“…Meanwhile, in the eastern region, Pinker et al [5] identified significant temporal (seasonal) variations in the LHF and SHF over the Pacific cold tongue. Pinker et al [5] also suggested a relationship between SWR, which was affected by cloud cover, and LWR, which was affected by moisture. Furthermore, Abellan et al [6] compared the mechanism of the 2015/2016 El Niño event with the 1997/1998 El Niño event and observed that the zonal winds along the equatorial Pacific during the 2015/2016 event had a lower intensity than those during the 1997/1998 event.…”