Satellite-derived surface latent heat fluxes in a rapidly intensifying marine cyclone

Abstract

A method for estimating the difference in specific humidity between the surface and a 10m height is investigated using the Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I)-observed integrated water vapor field and a sea surface temperature analysis. The surface latent heat flux fields generally have estimated errors below 40% south of 40°N and outside the region of high integrated water vapor values associated with frontal bands. The method of estimating surface latent heat fluxes for the case study was found to be usable in most regions of the northwest Atlantic Ocean except for those locations directly adjacent to coastlines in instances of offshore flow and in the vicinity of surface fronts. -from Authors