Turbulent Flow and Large Surface Wave Events in the Marine Boundary Layers
Abstract
The long-term objective of our research for the "High Resolution Air-Sea Interaction" (HIRES) Departmental Research Initiative (DRI) is to identify the couplings between large wave events, winds, and currents in the surface layer of the marine boundary layers. Turbulence-resolving large-eddy simulations (LESs) and direct numerical simulations (DNSs) of the marine atmospheric boundary layer (MABL) in the presence of time and space varying wave fields will be the main tools used to elucidate wind-wave-current interactions. A suite of turbulence simulations over realistic seas using idealized and observed pressure gradients will be carried out to compliment the field observations collected in moderate to high winds. The database of simulations will be used to generate statistical moments, will be interrogated for coherent structures, and will ultimately be used to compare with HIRES observations. We are investigating interactions between the MABL and the connecting air-sea interface primarily using LES. The waves are externally imposed based on well-established empirical wave spectra. Ultimately, they will be provided by direct observations of the sea surface from the HIRES field campaign. The main technical advance is the development of a computational tool that allows for nearly arbitrary 3-D wave fields (i.e., the sea surface elevation h = h(x, y, t) as a surface boundary condition. The computational method allows for time and space varying surface conditions over a range of wave scales.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA557057
Entities
People
- James C. McWilliams
- Peter P Sullivan
Organizations
- National Center for Atmospheric Research