Spatial Variation of Waves, Stress and Wind Field in the Shoaling Zone
Abstract
LONG TERM GOALS. 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 many 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 spatially varying mean wind, stress, turbulent structures, and surface wave fields to model effects of wave age, shoaling, and internal boundary layer development on the drag coefficient and momentum transfer. OBJECTIVES. A key to achieving our goals is the development of a data archive containing simultaneous observations on the wave, wind and stress fields in the shoaling zone. Since an instrument system to make these observations has not yet been developed, no such spatially dependent measurements currently exist. Therefore, our first objective is to development an efficient measurement system to collect the necessary observations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA633472
Entities
People
- Timothy L. Crawford
Organizations
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration