Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 April 2006
A wave Reynolds number is the controlling parameter in Wang & Street's (1978) correlation for spray generation in developing air flow over a pool. A novel feature of the present theory is the prediction of the time-mean interfacial stress which, together with a wave-height correlation, is proposed and tested as a tool for quantifying that Reynolds number. The validation exercise shows that the results are generally acceptable, although the technique tends to underestimate the interfacial stress and droplet flux at high gas speeds. The analysis of experimental data has revealed some differences in the correlations which should be resolved.