The Influence of Small Scale Turbulence and Coherent Structures on Air-Sea Heat Flux

University Of California-San Diego Scripps Inst Of Oceanography, La Jolla CA

Investigators

Abstract

Melville OCE-0118449 Wind gustiness produces small waves that modulate the surface shear implying a transition from laminar to turbulent flow in the near surface layer and causing disruption of the surface skin layer. The PIs propose to confirm the presence of small scale Langmuir circulations under typical wind conditions, to determine the space and time scales associated with the surface turbulence, to examine the impact on the associated surface renewal, and to compare the experimental results with numerical and theoretical model predictions. Deployment of their laser-based PIV system in a lake will occur in year one (and possibly a FLIP deployment). A FLIP deployment will occur in year two with emphasis on understanding the heat flux budget in the ocean surface layers. Year three will include analysis, study of ancillary processes such as the role of surfactants, modeling, a second FLIP experiment with a focus on the relationships of renewal and turbulence-laminar flow transition to gustiness and its associated scales. Year four will be devoted to analysis and writing.