An analysis of the accuracy of Japanese Ocean Flux data sets with Use of Remote sensing Observations (J‐OFURO) satellite‐derived latent heat flux using moored buoy data

Abstract

To analyze the accuracy of Japanese Ocean Flux data sets with Use of Remote sensing Observations (J‐OFURO) latent heat flux (LHF), comparisons with moored buoy data are conducted. In the tropical region, J‐OFURO LHF is characterized by large overestimations when buoy LHF has large values. On the other hand, in the midlatitudes, J‐OFURO LHF tends to be underestimated when buoy LHF has large values. We have concluded that these errors are mainly caused by the accuracy of surface air specific humidity. The large scatter between satellite and buoy products is due to the low accuracy of not only specific humidity data but also wind speed data in the midlatitudes. The J‐OFURO LHF bias errors are compared with the bias errors of selected satellite (GSSTF2 and HOAPS1) and reanalysis (NRA1, NRA2, ERA15 and ERA40) data sets.