Determination of Average Monthly Heat Fluxes in the North Atlantic from EOS Aqua AMSR-E Radiometer Data

Abstract

The potential of using data of long-term AMSR-E (EOS Aqua satellite) microwave radiometer measurements for the determination of heat fluxes in the North Atlantic energy active zones in 2003–2011 is investigated. It is shown that there is a direct (linear regression) correlation between seasonal and interannual variations in average monthly vertical turbulent fluxes of total (sensible and latent) heat at the sea surface and brightness temperature of the ocean-atmosphere system in these zones. It is found that the highest accuracy of reproducing variations in average monthly brightness temperature can be reached using AMSR-E radiometer channels which are sensitive to the total column water vapor and sea surface temperature.