STATIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANOMALIES OF SSTS AND AIR-SEA HEAT FLUXESIN THE NORTH PACIFIC

The static relationship between anomalies of sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and air-sea heat fluxes in the North Pacific is investigated us ing the datasets of SSTs and heat fluxes through the sea surface compu ted from GOADS for 40 years (1951 to 1990). In the low-latitude ocean, through a whole year, the downward heat fluxes (oceanic heat gain) ne gatively correlate with SST anomalies: when SST anomalies are negative (positive), then the ocean gains more (less) heat. On the contrary, i n winter and spring in the mid-latitude ocean, the downward heat fluxe s positively correlate with SST anomalies: when SST anomalies are posi tive (negative), then the ocean gains more (less) heat. The static rel ationship between SST anomalies and the upward heat fluxes (oceanic he at loss) is also examined. It is found that the situation is almost co mpletely opposite with those between SST anomalies and the downward he at fluxes.