The Energy Transfer Due to Air-Input, Non-Linear Wave-Wave Interaction and White-Cap Dissipation Associated with Wind-Generated Waves.

Abstract : Miles' theory is unsatisfactory for the prediction of ocean wave growth under wind action. Hasselmann's nonlinear wave-wave interactions theory may offer another physical mechanism for constructing a reasonable wave prediction model. An experimental program was designed to investigate this possibility in the context of the momentum and energy transfer from wind to waves, nonlinear wave-wave interactions and white-capping dissipation. The wind field (mean velocity profiles and fluctuating pressure and velocity components) and wave field (wave height) were measured simultaneously in a fixed reference frame and as a function of fetch along the Stanford wind-wave channel under the conditions of steady wind and stationary wave spectrum. All the data were obtained 5 mm above the highest point of the wind waves for five stations (3 m apart on average) and at three wind speeds (7.09, 8.01 and 8.88 m/sec). The wave height, fluctuating pressure and velocity components were measured by a capacitance wave height gauge, a crystal pressure transducer and a cross hot film probe, respectively.