Measurement of near sea surface turbulence and possible wave influence

Abstract

Measurements were made at three levels above the sea surface to observe possible wave influence on turbulence parameters. Two levels, at one and three meters above the sea surface, were mounted on a small floating platform tethered to the bow of the R/V Acania. The third level, at 6.6 meters above the sea surface, was mounted on a boom on the bow of the ship. Measurements were made of mean wind, mean temperature, mean humidity, and of the fluctuating temperatures and velocities at all three levels. these data were interpreted on the basis of empirically derived expressions describing the temperature structure function parameter, CT2, and the rate of dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy, e. For optical relevance, CT2 as related to CN2, the refractive index structure function parameter. Results show qualitatively that there is a substantial wave influence near the sea surface, and that the system and procedures used to obtain the data produce valid measurements for deriving the wave influence on turbulence and on optical transmission in the near sea surface layer adjacent to the waves.