Correlation between wave slopes and near-surface ocean currents

Conference · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:6526708

SethuRaman, S

The development of wind generated currents in the ocean was studied with simultaneous observations of mean wind speed, wind direction, surface wave parameters and near-surface ocean current. The measurements were carried out during February 23--March 14, 1976 as part of a coastal ocean boundary layer and diffusion study off Long Island, New York in the Atlantic Ocean. The results show a high correlation between wave slope and near-surface current indicating the possibility of wave age playing a significant role in the generation of current. Wave age is known to cause variations in momentum transfer. The wind generated current was found to have a broad spectral peak as compared with tidal currents. This peak was found to occur at approximately the same frequency as wind speed spectral peak. Integral time scales associated with wind and near-surface current were about the same, indicating the dominance of wind forcing near the ocean surface for this period of observation.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-02-0016
• OSTI ID: 6526708
• Report Number(s): BNL-25068; CONF-7805132-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500100 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
58 GEOSCIENCES
580500* -- Oceanography-- (1980-1989)
AIR
ATLANTIC OCEAN
BOUNDARY LAYERS
COASTAL REGIONS
CURRENTS
FLUIDS
GASES
LAYERS
METEOROLOGY
MID-ATLANTIC REGION
NEW YORK
NORTH AMERICA
OCEANOGRAPHY
SEAS
SURFACE AIR
SURFACE WATERS
TIDE
USA
VARIATIONS
VELOCITY
WATER CURRENTS
WATER WAVES
WAVE PROPAGATION
WIND