Unravelling the mysteries of turbulent drag at the air-sea interface

地球表面的70%是海-气界面。大量的能量和气体在大气和海洋之间交换，这些交换对地球上的生命至关重要。气候模型、天气和海浪预报依赖于这些交换的过于简化的模型。过于简单化限制了准确性，其结果从不准确的气候预测到昂贵和不必要的船舶改道或石油平台撤离。该项目通过在我们的实验室风浪箱中进行创新的、雄心勃勃的实验，承诺对波浪上方的湍流空气流有新的认识。与此同时，新的数值模拟将使新的模型，海洋阻力系数，最关键的组成部分，在空气-海洋相互作用模式。

70% of the Earth's surface is the air-sea interface. A huge amount of energy and gas is exchanged between the atmosphere and ocean; exchanges that are crucial for life on earth. Climate models, weather and wave forecasts depend on oversimplified models for these exchanges. Oversimplification limits accuracy, with outcomes ranging from inaccurate climate predictions to costly and unnecessary rerouting of ships or evacuations of oil platforms. This project promises new knowledge of the turbulent air flow above waves through innovative, ambitious experiments in our laboratory wind-wave tanks. Concurrently, novel numerical simulations will enable new models for sea drag coefficient, the most critical component in air-sea interaction models.