Ocean Surface Wave Optical Roughness - Innovative Measurement and Modeling
Abstract
We are part of a multi-institutional research team funded by the ONR-sponsored Radiance in a Dynamic Ocean (RaDyO) program. The primary research goals of the program are to (1) examine time-dependent oceanic radiance distribution in relation to dynamic surface boundary layer (SBL) processes; (2) construct a radiance-based SBL model; (3) validate the model with field observations; and (4) investigate the feasibility of inverting the model to yield SBL conditions. Our goals are to contribute innovative measurements, analyses and models of the sea surface roughness at length scales as small as a millimeter. This characterization includes microscale and whitecap breaking waves. Nonlinear interfacial roughness elements - sharp crested waves, breaking waves as well as the foam, subsurface bubbles and spray they produce, contribute substantially to the distortion of the optical transmission through the air-sea interface. These common surface roughness features occur on a wide range of length scales, from the dominant sea state down to capillary waves. Wave breaking signatures range from large whitecaps with their residual passive foam, down to the ubiquitous centimeter scale microscale breakers that do not entrain air. There is substantial complexity in the local wind-driven sea surface roughness microstructure, including very steep nonlinear wavelets and breakers. Traditional descriptors of sea surface roughness are scale-integrated statistical properties, such as significant wave height, mean squared slope (e.g. Cox and Munk, 1954) and breaking probability (e.g. Holthuijsen and Herbers, 1986). Subsequently, spectral characterisations of wave height, slope and curvature have been measured, providing a scale resolution into Fourier modes for these geometrical sea roughness parameters.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA603033
Entities
People
- Michael Banner
- Russel P. Morison
Organizations
- University of New South Wales