Abstract
Ocean surface heat fluxes play a significant role in the genesis and evolution of various marine-based atmospheric phenomena, from the synoptic scale down to the microscale. While in-situ measurements from buoys and flux towers will continue to be the standard in regard to surface heat flux estimates, they commonly have significant gaps in temporal and spatial coverage. Previous and current satellite missions have filled these gaps; though they may not observe the fluxes directly, they can measure the variables needed (wind speed, temperature and humidity) to estimate latent and sensible heat fluxes. However, current remote sensing instruments have their own limitations, such as infrequent coverage, signals attenuated by precipitation or both. The Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) mission overcomes these limitations over the tropical and subtropical oceans by providing improved coverage in nearly all weather conditions. While CYGNSS (Level 2) primarily estimates surface winds, when coupled with observations or estimates of temperature and humidity from reanalysis data, it can provide estimates of latent and sensible heat fluxes along its orbit. This paper describes the development of the Surface Heat Flux Product for the CYGNSS mission, its current results and expected improvements and changes in future releases.
Highlights
Latent and sensible heat fluxes (LHF and SHF, respectively) over the Earth’s oceans, produced by turbulent flow within the planetary boundary layer, can have a significant effect on the genesis and evolution of various weather and climate systems
This paper describes the development of a Level-2 (L2) ocean Surface Heat Flux product for the entire Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) mission, which utilizes its L2 wind speed retrievals, coupled with a reanalysis dataset for the thermodynamic variables
By using the Level-2 surface wind speeds retrieved from CYGNSS measurements, combined with temperature and humidity estimates from MERRA-2 reanalysis data, we have been able to develop a Surface Heat Flux Product for the CYGNSS mission
Summary
Latent and sensible heat fluxes (LHF and SHF, respectively) over the Earth’s oceans, produced by turbulent flow within the planetary boundary layer, can have a significant effect on the genesis and evolution of various weather and climate systems. There are several methods that can be used to estimate surface heat fluxes but the most common method utilizes the bulk aerodynamic formulas. These formulas relate the turbulent fluxes to the observable spatial and temporal averages [1,8] and can be written as follows: LHF = ρa Lv CDE U (qs − qa ), Remote Sens.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
