Variability of surface heat flux over the Indian Ocean

Abstract

The variability of surface heat flux over the Indian Ocean is investigated using in situ observational data. First, the Indian Ocean is divided into eight regions and the power spectra of surface heat fluxes are calculated for each region. Consequently it is shown that the surface heat flux over the Indian Ocean has three characteristic timescales: (1) the high frequency timescale (periods shorter than 20 months), (2) the middle frequency timescale (periods between 20 and 60 months), and (3) the low frequency timescale (periods longer than 60 months). Seasonal variation is dominant for the high frequency timescale, with shortwave radiation and the latent heat flux being the principal components of the variability at this timescale. Furthermore, the seasonal variation can be divided into three patterns depending on the region. The variation of shortwave radiation and the latent heat flux are also dominant in the middle‐frequency timescale. In some regions, heat flux variation for this timescale appears to be associated with El Niño. For the low‐frequency timescale, the latent heat flux is dominant. It should be noted that the heat flux from the ocean to the atmosphere has clearly increased since the late 1970s as a result of increases in wind speeds and the specific humidity difference.