Surface net heat flux estimated from drifter observations

Abstract The ocean mixed layer temperature equation is used to estimate the surface net heat flux from drifter measurements. determined for both climatologic and tropical cyclone (TC) conditions. spatial distributions of drifter-derived fluxes under two conditions are similar those derived satellite observations. However, appears be weaker in magnitude than that satellites, performs better closing energy budget with a global mean value 3.9 W m −2 . also satellite-derived TCs, using buoy observations as reference considering metrics such meen error, absolute root mean-square error percent bias. spatially averaged drifters TCs −124 at 10° N, decreases −85 30° however, these values much larger obtained satellites (−63 −21 , respectively). As additional components equation, entrainment velocity eddy diffusivity climatology show large amplitudes regions strong currents Western Boundary Current Antarctic Circumpolar Current. TC mostly appear winds.