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On the generation of sea waves by a turbulent wind

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Abstract

Miles' (1957) theory of wave generation is modified to include the effects of air turbulence. It is shown that the fluctuating wave-induced Reynolds stresses are important only within a critical layer surrounding the critical height where the mean wind speed matches the wave phase speed. When the critical height is such that the critical layer extends to the air-sea interface, the energy transfer from the wind to the wave is affected greatly by the turbulence.

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Author notes

  1. M. J. Manton

    Present address: Dept. of Mathematics, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia

    M. J. Manton

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  1. M. J. Manton
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Manton, M.J. On the generation of sea waves by a turbulent wind. Boundary-Layer Meteorol 2, 348–364 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02184775

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02184775

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