The energy budget of the Sable Island ocean region

The heat exchange between ocean and atmosphere over cold water is studied by calculating all terms in the energy balance twice each day for the year 1971 for the Sable Island region.

The atmospheric long‐wave radiation is relatively constant because of frequent overcast and low clouds. The surface long‐wave balance is markedly negative in winter but slightly positive for a short time in summer, due to strong advection of warm moist air over the cold water. In winter, the turbulent fluxes are directed upwards and are strong, the upward fluxes beginning after the middle of August and lasting until mid‐March. The maximum daily values of latent heat flux are 400 to 500 ly day^?1 (194 to 242 W m^?2), about a third or a quarter of the magnitude over the warmer Gulf Stream water. The summer fluxes are fairly constant and directed downward.

The water of the Labrador Current in the Sable Island region warms substantially from March to September and conversely cools intensely in the period November‐January.

A comparison of the energy exchange for a current and for water without motion shows that the surface temperatures would be similar in summer, and the temperature drop would be about equal until November. From that time on, the surface temperature would level off for a water body with no current, but in actual conditions the surface temperature continues to drop to a late winter minimum of about 1°C.

Atmospheric advection of latent heat was calculated by assuming that the daily precipitation was always caused first by condensation of all locally evaporated water with any remainder being supplied by water‐vapour advection. The main cause for atmospheric heating in the Sable Island area was found to be condensation of imported water vapour. The region is, in summer, a marked sink for atmospheric heat and water content. For water it remains a sink even in winter. For sensible heat it becomes a source from November to March. The warming of the atmosphere is caused by release of latent heat of advected water vapour in the period February‐August. During the months September‐January the heat sources are both water‐vapour advection and surface turbulent terms.