Intercomparison of heat fluxes in the South Atlantic: Part II: interannual variability
Abstract
Inter-comparison of the interannual variability of sea surface temperature, net heat and latent heat flux, for 3 observation based products (DaSilva, NCEP, ECMWF(ERA)) and the results for the NCAR CCSM coupled model are examined in order to gain an improved understanding of the South Atlantic characteristic spatial patterns. Their spatial structure and associated temporal variability, related ocean dynamics evolution are also discussed. The key regions of the Brazil-Malvinas confluence, Agulhas retroflection and Benguela upwelling region off Africa were chosen for a closer examination of the fluxes. These key regions were identified as being the regions with the highest variance in the South Atlantic. Preliminary results show significant interannual variability from each data product, but large differences among them. The merchant ship based interannual patterns is highly dependent of the spatio-temporal data distribution. Interannual patterns of the CCSM are coherent with the reanalysis products.
- Publication:
-
EGS - AGU - EUG Joint Assembly
- Pub Date:
- April 2003
- Bibcode:
- 2003EAEJA......461V