A Numerical Study of Rain-Induced Surface Gravity Wave Attenuation
Abstract
Strong rain-induced mixing in a thin surface layer is numerically shown to greatly increase surface gravity wave attenuation. This case study uses a single wavelength (2.8 m) together with two mixed layer depths (10 and 20 cm). The rain induced mixing is simulated by varying kinematic viscosity within the mixed layer from 0.000001 to 0.01 sq m per sec, molecular to strong turbulent mixing, respectively. The results indicate that surface gravity wave attenuation in the presence of a thin rain induced mixed layer can increase by a factor of up to 6000 times the attenuation rate due to molecular viscosity alone. This indicates that rain need only mix the top 10-20 cm surface layer to effectively dampen short surface gravity waves.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA212762
Entities
People
- David W. Howell
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School