io6 



ABSTRACT 



The transfer equations are applied to a set of U6 days of data col- 

 lected from an oceanographic research vessel on a station in the low latitude 

 western Atlantic. In this region the lapse rate and shear in the boundary 

 layer of the atmosphere is such that the transfer equations may be applied 

 with a reasonable degree of confidence. In particular, the most accurate 

 results are likely when large transfers occur, the least accurate when small 

 transfers occur. Under these conditions a linear dependence of the eddy 

 exchange coefficient with wind speed and stability were used to compute 

 latent and sensible heat transfer from time averages over 1 hour of specific 

 humidity, temperature and wind speed at 6 m and at the sea surface. Sea 

 surface temperatures were measured at 10 cm and compared with infrared 

 radiometer measurements . 



Individual synoptic scale systems that moved over or close to the 

 point of observation are examined. Over limited regions of these disturbances 

 latent and sensible heat transfers are found to increase by an order of 

 magnitude . Integrated over the whole disturbance the energy flux is found 

 to be double the landisturbed values. By using both streamline analysis and 

 a rainfall amount and occurrence technique, the frequency and size of synoptic 

 systems are determined. This makes possible the construction of summer, 

 winter and annual maps of latent and sensible heat transfer for the tropical 

 Atlantic. Significant differences are foimd when compared with results of 

 earlier workers. The role of synoptic scale disturbances in the atmospheric 

 energy balance is emphasized by these results. 



