Bottom-Up Determination of Air-Sea Momentum Exchange Under a Major Tropical Cyclone

Abstract

As a result of increasing frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones, an accurate forecasting of cyclone evolution and ocean response is becoming even more important to reduce threats to lives and property in coastal regions. To improve predictions, accurate evaluation of the air-sea momentum exchange is required. Using current observations recorded during a major tropical cyclone, we have estimated this momentum transfer from the ocean side of the air-sea interface, and we discuss it in terms of the drag coefficient. For winds between 20 and 48 meters per second, this coefficient initially increases and peaks at winds of about 32 meters per second before decreasing.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 23, 2007
Accession Number
ADA464687

Entities

People

  • David Wei Chi Wang
  • Douglas A. Mitchell
  • Ewa Jarosz
  • William J. Teague

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Coastal Regions
  • Coefficients
  • Continental Shelves
  • Cyclones
  • Delphi Method
  • Frequency
  • Hurricanes
  • Intensity
  • Military Research
  • Momentum
  • Momentum Transfer
  • Observation
  • Ocean Currents
  • Oceans
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Tropical Cyclones
  • Wind Stress

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science/Meteorology
  • Fluid Dynamics.