A Spectral Transfer Model of Ocean Wave Spectra. I. Formulation

Abstract

A one-dimensional spectral transfer equation is developed for ocean surface waves in the presence of non-uniform surface currents. The formalism is phenomenological and includes several parameters which are determined by comparison with data. The model contains phenomenological descriptions of wave breaking, wind generation and amplification, radiation stress, viscous damping, capillary effects, wave-wave interaction, non-linear wave group velocities and convective and refraction terms. The free parameters are determined by fitting the model to the Pierson-Stacy representation of a fully developed sea. Numerical calculations are carried out following wave packets along trajectories in k,x space. The effects of wave reflections and trappings by moving current patterns are included.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1973
Accession Number
AD0774766

Entities

People

  • Bruce J. West
  • J. A. Thomson

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Boltzmann Equation
  • Boundary Layer
  • Capillary Waves
  • Coordinate Systems
  • Dispersion Relations
  • Energy Transfer
  • Group Velocity
  • Internal Waves
  • Long Wavelengths
  • Ocean Waves
  • Phase Velocity
  • Radiation
  • Spectra
  • Steady State
  • Trajectories
  • Wave Packets
  • Waves

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science / Meteorology, specifically Wind Wave Turbulence.
  • Computational Modeling and Simulation

Technology Areas

  • Space