Advancing our understanding of the sub-mesoscale structure of the MABL and surface layer using airbo
Abstract
The sub-mesoscale non-linear interactions between the ocean and the atmosphere continue to challenge coupled models. The generation,of wind-blown sprays and foam play a major role in the magnitude of stress and energy fluxes resulting in significant departures fro,m log or power expressions of the wind profile near the surface. Organized circulations such as Organized Large Eddies (OLEs) provid,e counter gradient fluxes and generate organized wind stress patterns on the ocean surface. These wave scaled and OLE scaled variati,ons in stress and fluxes need to be better understood before attempting improvements to existing flux parameterization schemes such,as the Eddy Diffusivity Mass Flux (EDMF).Airborne Doppler Wind Lidar (ADWL) has been used for the past 2 decades to demonstrate the,utility of wind profiles throughout the troposphere. In this proposed investigation, we focus on the Marine Atmospheric Boundary Lay,er (MABL) and, in particular, the lowest 100m above the water. Using ONR and IR&D funds we have determined that there is a high prob,ability that total kinetic energy (TKE), sea spray, sea foam, wave state, stress, organized structures and, in some cases, surface c,urrents can be sensed and quantified with ADWL measurements. In some cases there have been corroborating observations (buoys, dropso,ndes, scatterometer). This proposal seeks support to conduct validation of a new ADWL data processing strategy before pursuing fundi,ng for process studies and numerical model parameterization development (e.g. EDMF). We propose to mine a large archive of ADWL data, taken over several decades for cases withwinds ranging from low to very high speeds and apply an evolving set of algorithms referre,d to as the Marine Atmospheric Boundary Layer Analysis Package (MABLAP). Outputs of this effort will include turbulence estimates fo,r scales between 10 and 1000 meters, PDFs of foam/sea spray occurrences, PDFs of sheer magnitudes within the lowest 100m of the MABL, and other relevantinformation such as MABL depth, presence of OLEs and LLJs and turbulence intensity at the top of the MABL
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 08, 2022
- Source ID
- N000142212400
Entities
People
- George Emmitt
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- Simpson Weather Associates (United States)
- United States Navy