Determination of the Spatial Variation of the Atmosphere and Ocean Wave Fields in Extremely Light Wind Regimes

Abstract : Existing parameterizations of heat, moisture, and momentum fluxes in the marine atmospheric boundary layer (MABL) perform poorly under weak wind regimes, especially in regions of inhomogeneity. These problems are due to a variety of processes (e.g., averaging techniques, gravity capillary wave spacing, surfactants and surface tension, free convection effects, frequency-dependent differences between wind, waves, and stress). In order to address these various forcing mechanisms, high-resolution, high fidelity atmospheric and surface wave data are needed to describe energy exchange across the air-sea interface. The overall long-term goal of the Coupled Boundary Layers and Air-Sea Transfer (CBLAST) low-wind initiative is to acquire these data to better understand air-sea interaction in extremely light wind regimes.