On Estimating the Surface Wind Stress over the Sea
Abstract
Our study analyzes measurements primarily from two Floating Instrument Platform (FLIP) field programs and from the Air–Sea Interaction Tower (ASIT) site to examine the relationship between the wind and sea surface stress for contrasting conditions. The direct relationship of the surface momentum flux to U2 is found to be better posed than the relationship between and U, where U is the wind speed and is the friction velocity. Our datasets indicate that the stress magnitude often decreases significantly with height near the surface due to thin marine boundary layers and/or enhanced stress divergence close to the sea surface. Our study attempts to correct the surface stress estimated from traditional observational levels by using multiple observational levels near the surface and extrapolating to the surface. The effect of stability on the surface stress appears to be generally smaller than errors due to the stress divergence. Definite conclusions require more extensive measurements close to the sea surface.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 2018
- Source ID
- 10.1175/jpo-d-17-0267.1
Entities
People
- James B. Edson
- L. Mahrt
- Scott R. Miller
- Tihomir Hristov
Organizations
- Johns Hopkins University
- Northwest Research Associates
- Office of Naval Research
- State University of New York at Albany
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution