Latent and sensible heat fluxes overestimated and net heat flux underestimated in Lake Victoria

TL;DR

This study highlights that previous estimates of heat fluxes over Lake Victoria were inaccurate due to assumptions about air density, leading to underestimation of net heat flux and potential misinterpretation of convective circulation.

Contribution

It identifies the overestimation of latent and sensible heat fluxes caused by assuming a constant air density, providing a correction for more accurate heat flux calculations.

Findings

Latent and sensible heat fluxes were overestimated by ~26%.

Net heat flux was underestimated due to flux overestimation.

Assuming a constant air density introduces significant errors.

Abstract

Cozar et al. (2012) used remotely-sensed data to link phytoplankton growth to the net heat flux in both the northern and southern parts of Lake Victoria. However, the latent and sensible heat fluxes were overestimated by ~26% by assuming a constant air density of 1.3 kg m-3. As a result, the net heat flux was underestimated, bringing into question conclusions regarding the convective circulation.