FluxSat: Measuring the ocean-atmosphere turbulent exchange of heat and moisture from space

Abstract: Recent results using wind and sea surface temperature data from satellites and high 16 resolution coupled models suggest that mesoscale ocean-atmosphere interactions affect the 17 locations and evolution of storms and seasonal precipitation over continental regions such as the 18 western US and Europe. The processes responsible for this coupling are difficult to verify due to the 19 paucity of accurate air-sea turbulent heat and moisture flux data. These fluxes are currently derived 20 by combining satellite measurements that are not coincident and that have differing and relatively 21 low spatial resolutions, introducing sampling errors that are largest in regions with high spatial and 22 temporal variability. Observational errors related to sensor design also contribute to increased 23 uncertainty. Leveraging recent advances in sensor technology, here we describe a satellite mission 24 concept, FluxSat, that aims to simultaneously measure all variables necessary for accurate 25 estimation of the ocean-atmosphere turbulent heat and moisture fluxes and capture the effect of 26 oceanic mesoscale forcing. FluxSat will improve the accuracy of the fluxes at spatial scales critical to 27 understanding the coupled ocean-atmosphere boundary layer system, providing measurements 28 needed to improve weather forecasts and climate model simulations. The improved spatial 29 resolution will also enable the estimation of fluxes closer to coasts, thereby facilitating studies of 30 near-coastal physical and ecosystem processes as well as supporting interdisciplinary research