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Air-Sea Interaction and Surface Wave Dynamics

ASIS buoy with R/V Ron Brown

AMP's air-sea interaction group focuses on small scale interfacial processes which are critical to understanding large scale weather and climate dynamics. These small scale processes are generally not resovled in models of the ocean and atmosphere. With the increased prominence of coupled models, the importance of dealing with the physical processes involving boundary layer turbulence and wave dynamics is apparent. The extreme air-sea interactions that occur in hurricanes make RSMAS an especially interesting place to study air-sea interactions. Here collaborations with MPO and AOML lead to a more complete approach incorporating our view of the physical processes, NOAA's field programs and MPO's numerical modelling and field measurements.

We collaborate with colleagues in MAC on studying the transfer of gases across the interface. Our laboratory facility is extremely well set up for gas transfer research in both light and strong winds. Climate-critical gases such as H₂O and CO₂ are currently under investigation and DMS will shortly be added. We also collaborate with MAC on the generation of spray and aerosols.

The roughness of the interface is determined by wave properties so that waves play a role in all aspects of air-sea interaction. Capillary and capillary-gravity waves (5 mm to 15 cm) have an especially crucial role in gas transfer and remote sensing. The breaking ("micro-breaking") of the short waves is the principal cause of enhanced gas transfer across the interface. The modulation of the short waves by the much longer waves and currents provides the basis for many aspects of satellite remote sensing. The ASIST facility is ideal for studying these aspects and also the thermodynamics of boundary layers. Ongoing work with MPO, AOML, and NRL (DC) focuses directly on the "cool skin" of the ocean, while continuing investigations with APL/UW are aimed at soldifying many aspects of active and passive remote sensing. Aerosol generation by wave breaking and the effetcs of aerosols on the health of coastal dwellers is an emerging area of research that involves MAC, MBF, and the Medical School.

Other related links: Hurricane Research Division, National Hurricane Center, American Geophysical Union (AGU), American Meteorological Society (AMS), The Oceanography Society (TOS), WHOI Air-Sea Interaction Group, Oceanweather, Inc., Shoaling Waves Experiment (showex)