Impact of Tropical Ocean Surface Fluxes on the Atmosphere and Upper Ocean: Extensions from TOGA COARE

Abstract ATM-9629237 Zhang, Yuanchong Columbia University Title: Impact of Tropical Ocean Surface Fluxes on the Atmosphere and Upper Ocean: Extensions from TOGA COARE This is a three project to investigate the heat and water vapor budgets in the TOGA COARE region in a novel manner by utilizing surface and remotely sensed satellite measurements and sophisticated one dimensional air sea interaction model and atmospheric radiative transfer model. The maintenance of the warm pool is the central problem of TOGA COARE and the heat and water budgets are critical to understand this. Therefore this work is highly relevant to TOGA COARE and climate issues. The specific goals to be achieved are: 1) Determine cloud characteristics and radiation fluxes by examining aircraft and atmospheric soundings, 2) Extend satellite flux analysis to the entire Pacific Ocean and 3) Complete gridded surface flux analysis for TOGA COARE IOP.