Seasonal variability of latent heat fluxes over the tropical Indian ocean using SSM/I and NOAA/AVHRR satellite data during 1988

Abstract

The monthly mean latent heat fluxes using Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) and Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) data over the Indian Ocean have been estimated using a bulk parameterization technique for the year 1988. Liu's (1986) global relation between monthly mean precipitable water and surface-level humidity has been applied to estimate surface-level humidity from satellite-derived precipitable water in this work. The month-to-month variation in latent heat fluxes have been studied along with oceanic and atmospheric parameters. The latent heat flux values were found to be higher over the Arabian Sea than those over the Bay of Bengal in the pre-monsoon and monsoon months, and almost the same or less for the other months. The latent heat flux values over the Indian Ocean varies from 100 W m⁻² in August near the Somali coast to 400 W m⁻² in June. The latent heat flux associated with tropical systems are extremely high.