Abstract
Breaking waves dissipate energy in the oceanic surface layer (top few meters) and also support the air-sea momentum flux. Spectrally resolved energy dissipation and momentum flux are extracted from open ocean observations of the breaking crest length distribution Λ(c). This concept, first introduced by Duncan and Phillips more than 2 decades ago, includes an unknown proportionality factor b. Independent estimates of direct turbulence measurements are used to evaluate this proportionality factor.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Banner M.L., and Pierson W.L. (1998) Tangential stress beneath wind-driven air-water interfaces. J Fluid Mec 364: 115–145.
Duncan J.D., (1981) An experimental investigation of breaking waves produced by a towed hydrofoil. Proc R Soc Lond A 377: 331–348.
Duncan, J.D., (2001) Spilling breakers. Ann Rev Fluid Mech 33: 517–547.
Farmer D.M., Vagle S., Booth A.D., (1998) A free-flooding acoustical resonator for measurement of bubble size distribution. J Atm Ocean Tech 15: 1132–1146.
Garrett C., Li M. and Farmer D.M. (2000) The connection between bubble size spectra and energy dissipation rates in the upper ocean. J Phys Oceanogr 30: 2163–2171.
Gemmrich J.R. (2000) Temperature anomalies beneath breaking waves and the decay of wave-induced turbulence. J Geophys Res 105: 8727–8736.
Gemmrich J.R. (2005) On the occurrence of wave breaking. ’Aha Huliko’a Hawaiian winter workshop, January 2005, University Hawaii. 123–130.
Gemmrich J.R. and Farmer D.M. (1999) Near surface turbulence and thermal structure in a wind driven sea. J Phys Oceanogr 29: 480–499.
Gemmrich J.R. and Farmer D.M. (2004) Near surface turbulence in the presence of breaking waves. J Phys Oceanogr 34: 1067–1086.
Gemmrich J.R., Mudge T.D. and Polonichko V.D. (1994) On the energy input from wind to surface waves. J Phys Oceanogr 24: 2413–2417.
Gemmrich J.R., Banner M. and Garrett C. (2007) Spectrally resolved energy dissipation and momentum flux associated with wave breaking. J Phys Oceanogr. Submitted.
Melville, W.K., (1996) The role of surface-wave breaking in air-sea interaction. Annual Rev Fluid Mech 26: 279–321.
Melville W.K. and Matusov P., (2002) Distribution of breaking waves at the ocean surface. Nature 417: 58–62.
Kudryavtsev V.N., Makin V.K. and Chapron B., (1999) Coupled sea surface-atmosphere model 2. Spectrum of short wind waves. J Geophys Res 104: 7625–7639.
Phillips, O.M., (1985) Spectral and statistical properties of the equilibrium range in wind-generated gravity waves. J Fluid Mech 156: 505–531.
Phillips, O.M., Posner F.L., Hansen J.P., (2001) High range resolution radar measurements of the speed distribution of breaking events in wind-generated ocean waves: Surface impulse and wave energy dissipation rates. J Phys Oceanogr 31: 450–460.
Thorpe, S.A., (1995) Dynamical processes of transfer at the sea surface. Progress Oceanogr 35: 315–352.
Thorpe, S.A., (2005) The Turbulent Ocean. Cambridge University Press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2007 Springer-Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Gemmrich, J. (2007). Momentum Flux and Energy Dissipation Associated with Breaking Waves. In: Garbe, C.S., Handler, R.A., Jähne, B. (eds) Transport at the Air-Sea Interface. Environmental Science and Engineering. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-36906-6_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-36906-6_9
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-36904-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-36906-6
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)