Langmuir Circulations Beneath Breaking Waves

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0116921Phillips/UIUCThe aim of this project is to study the role of mixing and vorticity generated by breaking waves on the formation and evolution of Langmuir circulations in the oceanic surface mixed layer. A theoretical model, consistent with data from recent field experiments, will be developed. This model will extend GLM theory from the weak-wave regime to a regime in which the surface waves have a more realistic steepness and will include a representation of vorticity injection by breaking waves. The dynamics of the model will be explored with numerical methods. The anticipated outcome is a better model of the development and structure of Langmuir-cell scale vortical motions in the ocean mixed layer. If successful, this may be useful in the development of better mixed-layer representations in large-scale ocean and climate models.