Turbulent structure under short fetch wind waves
Loading...
Authors
Papa, Michael J.
Subjects
Langmuir circulation
Bistatic Coherent Acoustic Doppler Velocity Profiler
surface gravity wave turbulence
Coupled Boundary Layers and Air-Sea Transfer
wind stress
Bistatic Coherent Acoustic Doppler Velocity Profiler
surface gravity wave turbulence
Coupled Boundary Layers and Air-Sea Transfer
wind stress
Advisors
Stanton, Timothy P.
Date of Issue
2015-12
Date
Dec-15
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
Momentum transfer from wind forcing into the ocean is complicated by the presence of surface waves. Wind momentum and energy are partitioned into wave growth, wave breaking, and wave forcing of the ocean surface layer. The purpose of this study was to support the ONR Coupled Boundary Layers and Air-Sea Transfer program by making very high spatial resolution profile measurements of the 3-D velocity field into the crest-trough region of wind-forced surface gravity waves, and study the low-frequency turbulent motions below the waves. The overarching goal is to improve model parameterization of how momentum is imparted on the ocean via wind-driven processes. At the Salinas River, in California, the Bistatic Coherent Acoustic Doppler Velocity Profiler and Thies Clima Ultrasonic 3-D Anemometer were deployed to capture the above-surface and subsurface velocity fields simultaneously to explore three main objectives: 1) determine the wave energy decay with depth and confirm the wavenumber, 2) determine the observed wind stress and calculate the wind stress using a bulk formula to identify any variations as a result of this estuarine environment, and 3) determine the turbulent stresses in the water column below the waves, and confirm the presence of Langmuir circulations and determine their advection and scaling.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Oceanography
Oceanography
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.