An investigation of momentum exchange parameterizations and atmospheric forcing for the Coastal Mixing and Optics Program

This thesis presents an investigation of the influence of surface waves on momentum exchange. A quantitative comparison of direct covariance friction velocity measurements to bulk aerodynamic and inertial dissipation estimates indicates that both indirect methods systematically underestimate the momentum flux into developing seas. To account for wave-induced processes and yield improved flux estimates, modifications to the traditional flux parameterizations are explored. Modification to the bulk aerodynamic method involves incorporating sea state dependence into the roughness length calculation. For the inertial dissipation method, a new parameterization for the dimensionless dissipation rate is proposed. The modifications lead to improved momentum flux estimates for both methods.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Year dc:date.issued

1998

Author dc:creator

• Martin, Michiko J.

• Oceanic mixing
• Ocean-atmosphere interaction

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

DOI

10.1575/1912/5343

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:darchive.mblwhoilibrary.org:1912/5343