Quantifying the Effects of Swell on the Air-Sea Momentum Flux

University Of Miami, Coral Gables FL

Investigators

Abstract

Quantifying the Effects of Swell on the Air-Sea Momentum Flux W. Drennan RSMAS Field measurements of momentum fluxes and velocity profiles will be used to help derive a new parameterization of air-sea fluxes under multiple roughness scales. Near-surface turbulence will be measured from an air-sea interaction spar buoy (ASIS) at a marine site in the Baltic Sea. Directional wave measurements will be made from ASIS and two waverider buoys. Meteorological measurements will be made from a nearby tower. This site was chosen to provide a regime of swell aligned with the wind field, a wide-range of atmospheric stability and a low-moderate wind-regime. The data will be analyzed to derive a better relationship between surface roughness and momentum flux in swell dominated or mixed sea regions. Incorporation of the new results into state-of-the-are coupled models should lead to improved forecasts of hurricanes and tropical storms.