Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Undergraduate
Project Type
individual
Authors' Class Standing
Laura Kent, Senior
Lead Presenter's Name
Laura Kent
Faculty Mentor Name
Dr. Drullion
Abstract
Operational models do not accurately incorporate air-sea interactions, which leads to inconsistencies in marine forecasts. A major component of next-generation operational models will include coupling between meteorology and wave models. The achievement of this goal requires improved coupling relationships, physically-based forcing terms in the spectral density transport equation of wave models, and software which facilitates computationally fast and ease of use in the development of coupled models. As the waves in the ocean are unsteady, a new parameterization is needed in order to take into account of growing and decaying waves. In this work, the researchers shall use the recently derived expression for energy-transfer rate from tropical cyclone winds, of different strength, to unsteady and sharp-crested waves. We shall also investigate the sea surface roughness for waves for different strength hurricanes. The researchers’ main focus is the derivation of relatively simple expressions which can easily be incorporated in operational wave models, such as WaveWatch, for unsteady waves of moderate to steep as well as sharp-crested waves.
Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, Collaborative, Climbing, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?
Yes, Spark Grant
Coupled Tropical Cyclone and Ocean Wave Model Sensitivity for Unsteady Waves
Operational models do not accurately incorporate air-sea interactions, which leads to inconsistencies in marine forecasts. A major component of next-generation operational models will include coupling between meteorology and wave models. The achievement of this goal requires improved coupling relationships, physically-based forcing terms in the spectral density transport equation of wave models, and software which facilitates computationally fast and ease of use in the development of coupled models. As the waves in the ocean are unsteady, a new parameterization is needed in order to take into account of growing and decaying waves. In this work, the researchers shall use the recently derived expression for energy-transfer rate from tropical cyclone winds, of different strength, to unsteady and sharp-crested waves. We shall also investigate the sea surface roughness for waves for different strength hurricanes. The researchers’ main focus is the derivation of relatively simple expressions which can easily be incorporated in operational wave models, such as WaveWatch, for unsteady waves of moderate to steep as well as sharp-crested waves.