Damping of ocean surface waves by a monomolecular film measured by wave staffs and microwave radars
Journal Article
·
· J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)
The damping of ocean surface waves by a monomolecular oleyl alcohol film of about 1.5 to 3 km/sup 2/ in area is measured in the North Sea by wave staffs, a coherent X band microwave scatterometer mounted on a sea-based platform, and an incoherent K/sub u/ band microwave scatterometer carried by an aircraft under moderate wind conditions (wind speed u/sub 10/ = 3.5 to 7.7 m s/sup -1/). The observed wave attenuation by the monomolecular surface film measured by a wave staff in the frequency band between 3.2 and 16 Hz is in the range of about 40 to 60%, with only a slight increase with frequency. From this result it can be predicted that slicks affect microwave backscattering similarly in the L band (lambda/sub 0/ approx. = 20 cm) as in the K/sub u/ and X bands (lambda/sub 0/ approx. = 2 cm). It is shown by additional wave tank experiments that a direct influence of oleyl alcohol surface films on wave damping is confined to frequencies f > or = 2 Hz, but a further indirect effect of oleyl alcohol films on the damping of ocean waves in the frequency range between 0.12 and 0.7 Hz by modifying the wind input and wave-wave interaction mechanisms is indicated from our results. A possible directional dependence of the wave-damping effect caused by surface films is discussed.
- Research Organization:
- Univ., Hamburg, Germany
- OSTI ID:
- 6805187
- Journal Information:
- J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 86:C1; ISSN JGREA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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