This data is large eddy simulation model output of turbulent airflow over misaligned surfaces waves (up to 90 degrees) for strongly forced to weakly forced conditions (wave age up to 10.95) using a wave-following mapped coordinate, for the following manuscript: Manzella, E., Hara, T., Sullivan, P. Reduction of Drag Coefficient due to Misaligned Surface Waves. (Manuscript in preparation) From these data for wind aligned with waves (0 degrees) to wind misaligned with waves (22.5, 45, 67.5, 90 degrees) and wave age (c/u*=1.37, 5.48, 10.95) with corresponding variable names (1x, 4x, 8x) we look at equivalent roughness length and wave growth/decay variables. In addition to the cross-wave component of the velocity (v), we also include the rotated along-wind (U) and cross-wind (V) variables. We look at horizontally averaged vertical profiles of the following: -Wind speed, wind shear, wind speed angle, and wind shear angle -Turbulent kinetic energy -Energy budget (including shear production, transport, and viscous dissipation) -Momentum budget (including pressure stress, turbulent stress, and wave-coherent stress) We also look at phase-averaged flow fields of the following: -Wind speed (horizontal and vertical) -Pressure -Turbulent kinetic energy -Dissipation rate -Vorticity (cross-wind) -Turbulent and wave-coherent stress -Pressure, turbulent tangential stress, and turbulent normal stresses (surface distribution) Finally, we look at cross-wind turbulent instantaneous vorticity fields for the 0 and 90 degrees for the lowest and highest wave ages
more »
« less
Reduction of Drag Coefficient Due To Misaligned Wind‐Waves
Abstract Recent field observations suggest that the air‐sea momentum flux (or the drag coefficient) is significantly reduced when the dominant wind‐forced surface waves are misaligned from local wind. Such conditions may occur under rapidly changing strong winds (such as under tropical cyclones) or in coastal shallow waters where waves are refracted by bottom topography. A recent Large Eddy Simulation (LES) study also shows that the drag coefficient is reduced by a misaligned strongly forced wave train (with a small wave age of 1.37). In order to investigate more realistic field conditions, this study employs LES to examine the effect of a misaligned (up to 90°) surface wave train over a wide range of wave age up to 10.95. For all wave ages examined, the drag coefficient is reduced compared to the flat surface condition when the misalignment angle exceeds around 22.5°–45°. The drag reduction may occur even if the form drag of the wave train is positive.
more »
« less
- Award ID(s):
- 2048752
- PAR ID:
- 10574054
- Publisher / Repository:
- American Geophysical Union
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans
- Volume:
- 129
- Issue:
- 5
- ISSN:
- 2169-9275
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Associated Dataset(s):
- View Associated Dataset(s) >>
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
-
-
Atmospheric fronts embedded in extratropical cyclones are high‐impact weather phenomena, contributing significantly to mid‐latitude winter precipitation. The three vital characteristics of the atmospheric fronts, high wind speeds, abrupt change in wind direction, and rapid translation, force the induced surface waves to be misaligned with winds exclusively behind the cold fronts. The effects of the misaligned waves under atmospheric cold fronts on air‐sea fluxes remain undocumented. Using the multi‐year in situ near‐surface observations and direct covariance flux measurements from the Pioneer Array off the coast of New England, we find that the majority of the passing cold fronts generate misaligned waves behind the cold front. Once generated, the waves remain misaligned, on average, for about 8 hr. The parameterized effect of misaligned waves in a fully coupled model significantly increases the roughness length (185%), drag coefficient (19%), and air‐sea momentum flux (11%). The increased surface drag reduces the wind speeds in the surface layer. The upward turbulent heat flux is weakly decreased by the misaligned waves because of the decrease in temperature and humidity scaling parameters being greater than the increase in friction velocity. The misaligned wave effect is not accurately represented in a commonly used wave‐based bulk flux algorithm. Yet, considering this effect in the current formulation improves the overall accuracy of parameterized momentum flux estimates. The results imply that better representing a directional wind‐wave coupling in the bulk formula of the numerical models may help improve the air‐sea interaction simulations under the passing atmospheric fronts in the mid‐latitudes.more » « less
-
Abstract The drag coefficient under tropical cyclones and its dependence on sea states are investigated by combining upper-ocean current observations [using electromagnetic autonomous profiling explorer (EM-APEX) floats deployed under five tropical cyclones] and a coupled ocean–wave (Modular Ocean Model 6–WAVEWATCH III) model. The estimated drag coefficient averaged over all storms is around 2–3 × 10 −3 for wind speeds of 25–55 m s −1 . While the drag coefficient weakly depends on wind speed in this wind speed range, it shows stronger dependence on sea states. In particular, it is significantly reduced when the misalignment angle between the dominant wave direction and the wind direction exceeds about 45°, a feature that is underestimated by current models of sea state–dependent drag coefficient. Since the misaligned swell is more common in the far front and in the left-front quadrant of the storm (in the Northern Hemisphere), the drag coefficient also tends to be lower in these areas and shows a distinct spatial distribution. Our results therefore support ongoing efforts to develop and implement sea state–dependent parameterizations of the drag coefficient in tropical cyclone conditions.more » « less
-
Abstract Spectral surface wave models predict the wave action evolution of multiple wave components. It is well understood that the group speed of the wave action of a particular wave component is modified if an Eulerian near-surface current exists. However, a typical ocean wave field also introduces a significant integrated Stokes drift, or Lagrangian mass transport, and its impact on the group speed of a particular wave component is not well known. In this study, the wave evolution equations are derived in the presence of two wave trains, and the impacts of one wave train on the phase and group speeds of the other wave train are investigated. The results are extended to estimate the impact of the entire wave spectrum on the propagation of a particular wave train. It is found that the group speed of the dominant waves can be significantly enhanced by the presence of other waves, by up to 0.3–0.4 m s−1or 4%–5%, in strongly wind-forced conditions under tropical cyclones. This increase of the group speed is almost twice as large as the advection by a sheared current with the same profile as the Stokes drift integrated over the wave spectrum. Introducing this enhanced group speed in the wave models may make a noticeable impact on their surface wave predictions. It is also found that the increase of the phase speed of a particular wave component is much larger than the advection by a sheared current with the same profile as the integrated Stokes drift.more » « less
-
null (Ed.)Abstract Turbulence driven by wind and waves controls the transport of heat, momentum, and matter in the ocean surface boundary layer (OSBL). For realistic ocean conditions, winds and waves are often neither aligned nor constant, for example, when winds turn rapidly. Based on a Large Eddy Simulation (LES) method, which captures shear-driven turbulence (ST) and Langmuir turbulence (LT) driven by the Craik-Leibovich vortex force, we investigate the OSBL response to abruptly turning winds. We design idealized LES experiments, whose winds are initially constant to equilibrate OSBL turbulence before abruptly turning 90° either cyclonically or anticyclonically. The transient Stokes drift for LT is estimated from a spectral wave model. The OSBL response includes three successive stages that follow the change in direction. During stage 1, turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) decreases due to reduced TKE production. Stage 2 is characterized by TKE increasing with TKE shear production recovering and exceeding TKE dissipation. Transient TKE levels may exceed their stationary values due to inertial resonance and non-equilibrium turbulence. Turbulence relaxes to its equilibrium state at stage 3, but LT still adjusts due to slowly developing waves. During stages 1 and 2, greatly misaligned wind and waves lead to Eulerian TKE production exceeding Stokes TKE production. A Reynolds stress budget analysis and Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equation models indicate that Stokes production furthermore drives the OSBL response. The Coriolis effects result in asymmetrical OSBL responses to wind turning directions. Our results suggest that transient wind conditions play a key role in understanding realistic OSBL dynamics.more » « less
An official website of the United States government

