A Wind–Wave-Dependent Sea Spray Volume Flux Model Based on Field Experiments

Bibliographic Details
Title: A Wind–Wave-Dependent Sea Spray Volume Flux Model Based on Field Experiments
Authors: Xingkun Xu, Joey J. Voermans, Hongyu Ma, Changlong Guan, Alexander V. Babanin
Source: Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, Vol 9, Iss 11, p 1168 (2021)
Publisher Information: MDPI AG, 2021.
Publication Year: 2021
Collection: LCC:Naval architecture. Shipbuilding. Marine engineering
LCC:Oceanography
Subject Terms: laser altimeter, sea spray measurements, sea spray model, wave steepness, air–sea flux, Naval architecture. Shipbuilding. Marine engineering, VM1-989, Oceanography, GC1-1581
More Details: Sea spray can contribute significantly to the exchanges of heat and momentum across the air–sea interface. However, while critical, sea spray physics are typically not included in operational atmospheric and oceanic models due to large uncertainties in their parameterizations. In large part, this is because of the scarcity of in-situ sea spray observations which prevent rigorous validation of existing sea spray models. Moreover, while sea spray is critically produced through the fundamental interactions between wind and waves, traditionally, sea spray models are parameterized in terms of wind properties only. In this study, we present novel in-situ observations of sea spray derived from a laser altimeter through the adoption of the Beer–Lambert law. Observations of sea spray cover a broad range of wind and wave properties and are used to develop a wind–wave-dependent sea spray volume flux model. Improved performance of the model is observed when wave properties are included, in contrast to a parameterization based on wind properties alone. The novel in-situ sea spray observations and the predictive model derived here are consistent with the classic spray model in both trend and magnitude. Our model and novel observations provide opportunities to improve the prediction of air–sea fluxes in operational weather forecasting models.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2077-1312
Relation: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/9/11/1168; https://doaj.org/toc/2077-1312
DOI: 10.3390/jmse9111168
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/756f04e4bef04470b7bc06e24d240e6e
Accession Number: edsdoj.756f04e4bef04470b7bc06e24d240e6e
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:20771312
DOI:10.3390/jmse9111168
Published in:Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
Language:English