Collaborative Research: Wind turbulence over shoaling surface waves and their impact on air-sea fluxes

本项目将在一个风浪设施中使用波浪跟踪大涡模拟（LES）结合流动可视化工具，研究海面上气水界面上的动量和能量交换。总的目标是更好地了解调制和可能的阻力系数增加，由于浅水波。研究结果将有助于制定与海况有关的海气通量的精确参数化，这些参数化可纳入正在进行的大气-波浪-海洋天气和气候模型（特别是风暴潮模型）的耦合工作。该项目包括与罗得岛大学和特拉华州大学的教育和推广活动建立联系。这些措施包括培训研究生在科学教育教学法，有效的推广策略，科学传播;夏季奖学金研究教育本科生（REU）;实验室访问的学童和其他团体;和开放的houses.In沿海沃茨的观测和建模研究表明，阻力系数显着增强浅滩波减慢，变得陡峭。然而，现有的模型大大低估了浅水波的影响。这个项目将研究如何浅滩波的形状是由风强迫和波浪形状如何改变风（湍流）场以上的波修改。PI假设波浪形状和风强迫之间的耦合相互作用增强了浅水波的阻力系数。为了验证这一点，他们将结合联合收割机高分辨率的实验室观测和大涡模拟（LES）。 LES结果将根据观测结果进行验证，并扩展到调查浅水波对标量flux.This奖项反映了NSF的法定使命的影响，并已被认为是值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估的支持。

This project will investigate the exchange of momentum and energy across the air-water interface at the sea surface using a wave-following Large Eddy Simulation (LES) in combination with flow visualization tools in a wind-wave facility. The overall objective is to better understand modulation and possible enhancement of drag coefficient due to shoaling waves. The results will contribute to the development of accurate parameterizations of sea state dependent air-sea fluxes, which can be incorporated in the ongoing coupling efforts for atmosphere-wave-ocean weather and climate models (storm surge models in particular). The project includes linkages with education and outreach initiatives at the University of Rhode Island and University of Delaware. These include training for graduate students in science education pedagogy, effective outreach strategies, and science communication; summer fellowships in Research Education for Undergraduates (REU); Laboratory visits for schoolchildren and other groups; and open houses.In coastal waters both observational and modeling studies show that the drag coefficient is significantly enhanced by shoaling waves as waves slow down and become steeper. However, the existing models significantly underestimate the shoaling wave effect. This project will investigate how the shape of shoaling waves is modified by wind forcing and how that wave shape alters the wind (turbulence) field above the wave. The PIs hypothesize that coupled interaction between wave shape and wind forcing enhances the drag coefficient over shoaling waves. To test this, they will combine high resolution laboratory observations and large eddy simulation (LES). The LES results will be validated against observations and extended to investigate the impact of shoaling waves on scalar fluxes.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.