ocean-atmosphere surface heat flux when exist sea ice

[hui_ding@colorado_edu]

How are the four atmospheric variables: FLNS (net longwave at the surface), FSNS (net shortwave at the surface), LHFLX (latent heat flux) and SHFLX (sensible heat flux) obtained when there exist sea ice. Are these fluxes calculated between ocean and sea ice or between sea ice and atmosphere or still between ocean and atmosphere? Thank you!

 

[dbailey]

These are all merged by the surface fraction.

fice*LHice + focn*LHocn + fland*LHland

If you want just the component over the sea ice, ocean, or land, you can get these in the component history files. They are also available in the coupler history files.

 

[hui_ding@colorado_edu]

These are all merged by the surface fraction.

fice*LHice + focn*LHocn + fland*LHland

If you want just the component over the sea ice, ocean, or land, you can get these in the component history files. They are also available in the coupler history files.

This is very helpful. I assume LHocn and LHland are heat flux from the atmosphere into the ocean and land. Does LHice indicates heat flux from sea ice to the ocean or from the atmosphere to sea ice? Thank you!

 

[dbailey]

The direction may change depending on the time of year. Note that I used the label "LHice" etc just for convenience here. You'll have to look in the coupler history files or component history files for the actual names.