The project EPIC took place from 1 September to 15 October 2001, in the region centered in 10N and 95W, over the warm pool in the Eastern tropical Pacific. Eighteen flights were conducted by the C-130 operated by NCAR, divided into flights to characterize the convection in the ITCZ and flights to determine boundary layer characteristics along 95W across the sea surface temperature front. All flights included segments at 30m above sea level and dropsondes were deployed regularly during the flights.

In this study we analyze the high rate temperature, humidity and wind data obtained during the 30m runs to estimate the vertical fluxes of latent and sensible heat as well as the momentum fluxes. The data were sorted according to sea surface temperature in the flights along 95W. Fluxes were also estimated from the data from the dropsondes, based on the bulk formulae. The preliminary results indicate that the bulk formula is adequate for the representation of the fluxes derived from high-rate data, given that the wind speeds observed during EPIC did not frequently exceed 15 m/s. A new campaign with the C-130 this upcoming winter season in the same region will provide data to extend this study to higher wind speeds. Such speeds are expected, particularly when the low level jet observed along the Isthmus of Tehuantepec is present.