Wave Breaking and Near-Surface Turbulence

Abstract : Our long term goal is to understand and develop robust parameterizations of vertical exchange near the ocean surface, and to identify and parameterize the link between exchange processes and their remotely sensed signatures. The full potential of remote sensing techniques for studying air-sea interaction is limited by our understanding of the mechanisms determining the remotely sensed signals. Remote sensing from above the ocean surface, such as infra red imaging, can detect the effects of near surface turbulence on the surface properties. Our objectives are to identify the link between such remotely sensed surface signatures and the subsurface processes through direct measurement of turbulence. A further objective is to improve our understanding of, and ability to parameterize, wave characteristics, wave breaking, air entrainment and bubble size distributions, and near-surface turbulence.