# Heat Flux question

**URL:** <https://discourse.oceanobservatories.org/t/heat-flux-question/315>\
**Category:** HelpDesk\
**Tags:** cgsn\
**Created:** [October 18, 2021, 8:16pm UTC](https://discourse.oceanobservatories.org/t/heat-flux-question/315 "2021-10-18T20:16:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jglatstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@jglatstein](https://discourse.oceanobservatories.org/u/jglatstein)\
**Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 8:16pm UTC](https://discourse.oceanobservatories.org/t/heat-flux-question/315/1 "2021-10-18T20:16:27Z")

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On Behalf of Data Explorer user:

Hello, I want to know is there any criterion to not evaluate values in the net heat flux? These omitted values vary from hundreds to thousands. Thanks a lot.

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**Author:** ![swhite](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.oceanobservatories.org/swhite/32/31_2.png) [@swhite](https://discourse.oceanobservatories.org/u/swhite)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2021, 12:43pm UTC](https://discourse.oceanobservatories.org/t/heat-flux-question/315/2 "2021-10-19T12:43:57Z")

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Net heat flux depends on many input variables, which are used in “bulk  
formulae” to estimate flux components. Background information can be  
found in a variety of publications, for example see Cronin et al.,  
2019, Front. Mar. Sci. 6:430, doi: 10.3389/fmars.2019.00430for an  
overview and Fairall et al., 2003, J. Phys. Oceanog. 16, 571-591 for  
a detailed description of a particular set of bulk formulae.

In order for net heat flux to be computed, all of the following  
variables must be present and of sufficient quality to pass QC checks.  
Absence of any variable will mean absence of the net heat flux:

wind speed  
air temperature  
sea surface temperature  
relative humidity  
barometric pressure  
near-surface current  
downwelling longwave radiation  
downwelling shortwave radiation

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**Author:** ![swhite](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.oceanobservatories.org/swhite/32/31_2.png) [@swhite](https://discourse.oceanobservatories.org/u/swhite)\
**Post date:** [January 6, 2022, 4:08pm UTC](https://discourse.oceanobservatories.org/t/heat-flux-question/315/3 "2022-01-06T16:08:36Z")

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