Collaborative Research: A Laboratory Experiment to Quantify the Impact of Whitecap Foam on Air-Sea Momentum Transfer

这个项目的动机是需要改进空海动量通量的参数化。这项研究有望深入了解白浪泡沫对海气界面动量传递的影响。将利用迈阿密大学的海气相互作用盐水槽（ASIST）在实验室环境中研究白浪泡沫对海气动量通量的影响。研究结果将有助于改进海气界面动量传递的参数化，这对海洋和气候模式、飓风预报以及影响海岸侵蚀和近海能量的波浪模式具有重要意义。该项目将利用迈阿密大学的海气相互作用盐水罐（ASIST）量化白浪泡沫对海气动量传递的影响。泡沫将通过透气性管道吹入空气，以模拟波浪破裂后残留在表面的残余泡沫。然后将风吹过泡沫斑块，并在下风的两个位置测量湍流动量通量，以与清洁，无泡沫的水进行比较。实验将使用一系列风速和泡沫区域进行。将使用淡水和天然海水，并通过改变表面活性剂的浓度来调节气泡的大小和稳定性。这项研究的结果将是量化影响白浪泡沫对空气-海动量转移通过改变表面粗糙度在各种条件下。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project is motivated by the need to improve parameterization of air-to-sea momentum fluxes. This research is expected to result in an in-depth understanding of the impact whitecap foam has on momentum transfer at the air-sea interface. The impact of whitecap foam on air-sea momentum flux will be studied in the laboratory environment using the Air-Sea Interaction Saltwater Tank (ASIST) at the University of Miami. The results will lead to improved parameterization of the momentum transfer at the air-sea interface which is important for ocean and climate modeling, hurricane forecasting, and modeling waves which effect coastal erosion and offshore energy.This project will quantify the impact of whitecap foam on air-sea momentum transfer using the Air-Sea Interaction Saltwater Tank (ASIST) at the University of Miami. Foam will be generated by purging air through gas permeable tubing to imitate residual foam which lingers on the surface after a wave has broken. Wind will then be blown over the foam patch and turbulent momentum flux measured at two locations downwind for comparison to clean, foam-free water. The experiment will be conducted using a range of wind speeds and foam areas. Both fresh water and natural sea water will be used and bubble size and stability will be adjusted by altering surfactant concentrations. The outcome of this research will be a quantification of the impact whitecap foam has on air-sea momentum transfer by altering the surface roughness over a variety of conditions.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.