Variations in latent heat flux over the eastern Japan sea in december

Variations in latent heat flux (LHF), calculated from daily variables in the OAFlux dataset, were investigated over the Japan Sea for December of 1990-2010 because the December is the month with the largest LHF release. The largest temporal variations in LHF occurred over the eastern Japan Sea (EJS; 137°E-140°E, 38°N-43°N), showing an interannual-scale variation. By performing simple experiments with combinations of raw daily data and daily climatological data, we quantitatively assessed the relative contributions of saturated specific humidity at sea surface temperature (SST), surface air humidity, and surface wind speed in determining the LHF over the EJS. Results showed that SST (saturated specific humidity), which is associated with the Tsushima Warm Current, predominantly determines the LHF; a huge evaporation in the state of the positive SST anomaly. The LHF in the EJS has a strong influence on precipitation over the northern Japanese Islands.