SEMINAR: Tomorrow! CSTAMP - Silvia Matt

[Roland Romeiser <rromeiser@rsmas.miami.edu>]

CSTAMP COLLOQUIUM ON SELECTED TOPICS OF APPLIED MARINE PHYSICS

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SPEAKER
Silvia Matt
Nova Southeastern University & RSMAS

TITLE
Modification of the air-sea interface and
near-surface turbulence by surfactants:
Laboratory experiment and numerical simulation

DATE
Friday, May 7, 2010

TIME
2:00 pm

VENUE
RSMAS, AMP seminar room (MSC 125)

Abstract: Understanding the effect of surfactants on gravity-capillary waves is important for synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging of the sea surface. Surfactants influence short gravity-capillary waves and near-surface turbulence. The effect on short surface waves has been extensively studied. However, little is known about the effect of surfactants on near-surface turbulence. In order to investigate this effect, we have conducted a series of laboratory experiments and numerical simulations. Results from the measurements conducted at the UM RSMAS Air-Sea Interaction Saltwater Tank (ASIST) facility demonstrate reduction of turbulence below the air-sea interface and increase of the surface drift velocity in the presence of surfactants. We are able to reproduce these findings in high-resolution non-hydrostatic numerical simulations. These findings are expected to help in the interpretation of certain fine features on the sea surface observed in SAR images from the new generation of high-resolution satellites (TerraSAR-X, RADARSAT-2, ALOS PALSAR).

All students are highly encouraged to come to this seminar!

List of all CSTAMP presentations in this semester:
http://www.rsmas.miami.edu/personal/rromeiser/cstamp_s10.pdf

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Roland Romeiser
Associate Professor
Division of Applied Marine Physics
Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
University of Miami
4600 Rickenbacker Causeway
Miami, Florida 33149-1031 USA

Phone:  +1 305 421 4645
Fax:    +1 305 421 4701
E-Mail: rromeiser@rsmas.miami.edu
WWW:    www.rsmas.miami.edu/divs/amp/People/Faculty/Romeiser/

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