The Annual Cycle of Air-Sea Fluxes in the Northwest Tropical Atlantic

In this article we analyze 11 years of near-surface meteorology using observations from an open-ocean surface mooring located in the Northwestern Tropical Atlantic (51°W, 15°N). Air-sea fluxes heat, freshwater, and momentum are derived these Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere Response Experiment (COARE) bulk parameterization. Using dataset, compute a climatology annual cycle meteorological conditions air-sea fluxes. These situ data then compared with three reanalyses: National Centers for Environmental Prediction-Department Energy [NCEP-DOE (hereafter referred to as NCEP-2)], European Centre Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Interim Modern-Era Retrospective analysis Research Applications, version 2 (MERRA-2) reanalyses. Products Clouds Earth’s Radiant System (CERES) Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) also used comparison. We identify agreements characterize discrepancies cycles variables different components heat (latent, sensible, shortwave, longwave radiation). Recomputing reanalyses by applying COARE algorithm results better agreement than directly. However, radiative (longwave shortwave) some show significant when measurements. Longwave radiation MERRA-2 is biased high (too much oceanic loss), NCEP-2 does not correlate other Shortwave low winter track observed variability summer. The versus explored, potential regional implications discussed maps satellite products, including cloud cover.