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
3 - Atmospheric and Oceanic Boundary Layer Physics
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
The globe of the earth is surrounded by a gaseous atmosphere which is always in motion. When in contact with the land or the water surface of the earth the flow is reduced to zero, relative to the underlying surface, and it is this boundary flow that interests us here. As well as the planetary boundary layer in the air, also known as the Ekman layer, there is an oceanic boundary layer which interacts with the air above. The thermal structure through these two regimes is shown schematically in Fig. 3.1. An adequate description of physical processes and mechanisms that determine the structure of the interacting atmospheric and oceanic boundary layers as well as a theoretical background is needed for developing parametrization schemes. The more general features of this problem are treated in the monograph by Kraus and Businger (1994).
One of the most important problems is the parametrization of the turbulent fluxes of momentum, latent and sensible heat at the sea surface. The oceans are the major source of atmospheric water and a major contributor to the heat content of the atmosphere. Most of the solar energy is absorbed by the oceans, and this energy becomes available to maintain the atmospheric circulation only through turbulent fluxes of latent and sensible heat. Radiative, sensible and latent fluxes determine the ocean surface energy flux and, consequently, the vertical structure of the upper ocean.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Wind Stress over the Ocean , pp. 54 - 81Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2001
- 10
- Cited by