Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Contributors
- Frequently Used Symbols
- 1 Overview
- PART 1
- 2 Historical Drag Expressions
- 3 Atmospheric and Oceanic Boundary Layer Physics
- 4 Ocean Wave Spectra and Integral Properties
- 5 Drag Generation Mechanisms
- 6 Coupling Mechanisms
- 7 The Measurement of Surface Stress
- PART 2
- References
- Index
6 - Coupling Mechanisms
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 16 October 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Contributors
- Frequently Used Symbols
- 1 Overview
- PART 1
- 2 Historical Drag Expressions
- 3 Atmospheric and Oceanic Boundary Layer Physics
- 4 Ocean Wave Spectra and Integral Properties
- 5 Drag Generation Mechanisms
- 6 Coupling Mechanisms
- 7 The Measurement of Surface Stress
- PART 2
- References
- Index
Summary
Introduction
Traditionally, the wind has been considered as the driving force for all ocean dynamics phenomena. Thus, we have the classical works on wind generated ocean circulation (Robinson 1963), and wind generated waves (Kinsman 1965). Almost half a century has elapsed, yet the prevailing thinking in the ocean community remains unchanged: Scientists engaged in ocean model development still fall into two categories – ocean circulation modellers who produce General Circulation Models (CGMs) and wind-wave modellers who have constructed, for example, Wave Modelling (WAM). In each respective endeavour, wind is considered as given and unchanged. This viewpoint is now changing. Research seems to be moving in the direction of treating the atmosphere and the oceans as a single system.
Wind-generated waves and currents are fundamental features of the world oceans. As the wind starts to blow over a resting ocean surface, it first generates small-scale wind-waves. These wind-waves extract momentum and energy from the wind field and modify the effective momentum flux into currents and also influence the wind field itself. The momentum flux will generate the drift currents, which in turn begin to influence the amplitude and directionality of the surface wind-wave field. The general ocean circulation pattern will also transport heat from one region to another to modify the global atmospheric dynamics. Thus, they form a closely knitted interacting trinity.
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- Wind Stress over the Ocean , pp. 142 - 154Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2001
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