Spatial Variation of Wind Stress and Wave Field in the Shoaling Zone
Abstract
Existing atmospheric models for predicting surface stress and turbulent structure in the shoaling zone fail because of their inability to properly account for wave age, shoaling and internal boundary layer development. Accurate model simulation of the surface stress and turbulence above the air-sea interface is important for a number of applications including understanding wave growth and decay. Under this ONR Advanced Research Initiative our goals are: 1. to measure the spatial variation of the wind, surface stress and ocean wave fields in the shoaling zone and to provide quality-controlled data to the shoaling community; and 2. to study the relationship between the spatial varying mean wind, stress, turbulence structures, and surface wave fields in order to model effects of wave age, shoaling, and internal boundary layer development on the drag coefficient and momentum transfer. The key to achieving our goals is the development of a data archive containing simultaneous observations of the spatially varying wave, wind and stress fields in the shoaling zone. Currently instrument systems for making such observations do not exist. Therefore, our first objective is development and test of an efficient measurement system. This report focuses on the instrument system developed and its application in a pilot study.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA550833
Entities
People
- Christoph A. Vogel
- Timothy L. Crawford
Organizations
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration