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Measurements of the wind-wave energy flux in an opposing wind

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 April 2006

Ian R. Young  and
Rodney J. Sobey
Ian R. Young
Affiliation:
Max-Planck-Institut für Meteorologie, D-2000 Hamburg 13, West Germany Present address: Department of Civil and Systems Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811, Australia.
Rodney J. Sobey
Affiliation:
Department of Civil Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, U.S.A.
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Abstract

A wind-wave flume which allows mechanically generated water waves to propagate in opposition to a boundary-layer air flow has been used to measure the air-flow structure in an opposing wind–wave situation. Measurements of the wave-induced pressure closely follow the predictions of potential flow theory, with the pressure in antiphase with the water surface. Hence, in contrast to the following wind situation, there is no appreciable air–water energy flux due to normal stresses. The vertical and horizontal wave-induced velocities deviate slightly in magnitude from the potential flow result while still following it qualitatively. Based on these velocity measurements it is determined that the Reynolds stress $-\rho_{\rm a}\overline{\tilde{u}\tilde{u}}$ is the dominant term in causing the decay of waves in opposing winds. The predicted rate of decay has a squared dependence on the wave slope and the ratio of wind speed to wave phase speed.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 151 , February 1985 , pp. 427 - 442
Copyright
© 1985 Cambridge University Press

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