Energy Transfer at the Air-Sea Interface: Near-Inertial Input, Surface Waves, and the Role of Non-Equilibrium Seas

Abstract

An observational program is proposed to improve our understanding of the ocean???s dynamic response to wind forcing and to characterize the air-sea interface in extreme seastates.Using an array of autonomous assets, we propose to measure the directional spectrum of surface gravity waves and near-surface meteorological properties tocharacterize energy input to the ocean boundary layer. Data collected by drifting wave buoys will provide spatio-temporal coverage of non-equilibrium sea states near Iceland andcan be integrated into operational coupled models. Pending the outcome of a submitted DURIP, these buoys could be deployed at desired locations from a Liquid RoboticsExtreme Sea State SV3 Wave Glider. Our group has previously integrated our (ONR sponsored) wave sensing capability into this platform and added enhanced meteorologicalpayloads based on the expeditionary meteorological system (XMET). Including an ADCP to measure upper layer currents, our proposed SV3 configuration would provide concurrentmeasurements of the wind, wave, and current field from a maneuverable platform. This would allow the assets to be positioned in the path of oncoming storm systems or otherdesirable configurations during the experiment. Should the DURIP not be funded, we will work with the GPS-based wave buoys, using deployment capabilities provided by theIcelandic Coast Guard and a U.S. Research Vessel.

Document Details

Document Type
DoD Grant Award
Publication Date
Jul 10, 2018
Source ID
N000141812424

Entities

People

  • Eric Terrill

Organizations

  • Office of Naval Research
  • United States Navy
  • University of California, San Diego

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Ocean-Atmosphere Mesoscale Modeling, Data Assimilation, and Flux Boundary Layers
  • Oceanography.
  • Research Science/Academic Research

Technology Areas

  • Autonomy
  • Space