Correlation Analysis Between the Variation of Net Surface Heat Flux Around the East Asian Seas and the Air Temperature and Precipitation Over the Korean Peninsula

Abstract

In this study, using 16 ORA-IP (Ocean Reanalysis Intercomparison Project) data, we investigated spatial and temporal changes of net surface heat flux in the East Asian seas and presented a new ensemble net surface heat flux index. The ensemble net surface heat flux index is produced considering the data distribution and the standard deviation of each ORA-IP. From the correlation analysis with air temperature averaged over the Korean Peninsula, ensemble net heat flux around the Korea Strait shows the highest correlation (0.731) with a 3 month time lag. For the correlation study regarding precipitation over the Korean Peninsula, it also shows significant correlation especially in winter and spring seasons. Similar results are also found in comparison with climate indices (AO, PDO, and NINO3.4), but ensemble net surface heat flux data in winter season reveals the strongest correlation patterns especially with winter temperature and spring precipitation.