Publication Date:
2013-10-09
Description:
Wave and wind measurements at Ocean Weather Station P (OWS-P, 50 ° N 145 ° W) are used to evaluate the equilibrium range of surface wave energy spectra. Observations are consistent with a local balance between wind input and breaking dissipation, as described by Phillips [1985]. The measurements include direct covariance wind stress estimates and wave breaking dissipation rate estimates during a three-week research cruise to OWS-P. The analysis is extended to a wider range of conditions using observations of wave energy spectra and wind speed during a two-year mooring deployment at OWS-P. At moderate wind speeds (5 to 15 m/s), mooring wave spectra are in agreement, within 5% uncertainty, with the forcing implied by standard drag laws and mooring wind measurements. At high wind speeds ( 〉 15 m/s), mooring wave spectra are biased low, by 13%, relative to the forcing implied by standard drag laws and mooring wind measurements. Deviations from equilibrium are associated with directionality and variations at the swell frequencies. A spectral wave hindcast accurately reproduces the mooring observations, and is used to examine the wind input.
Print ISSN:
0148-0227
Topics:
Geosciences
,
Physics
Permalink