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On the wind-induced growth of slow water waves of finite steepness

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 July 2008

WILLIAM L. PEIRSON  and
ANDREW W. GARCIA
WILLIAM L. PEIRSON
Affiliation:
Water Research Laboratory, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of New South Wales, King Street, Manly Vale, NSW 2093, Australia W.Peirson@unsw.edu.au
ANDREW W. GARCIA
Affiliation:
Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory, US Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA
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Abstract

Determining characteristic growth rates for water waves travelling more slowly than the wind has continued to be a key unresolved problem of air–sea interaction for over half a century. Analysis of previously reported and recently acquired laboratory wave data shows a systematic decline in normalized wave growth with increasing mean wave steepness that has not previously been identified. The normalized growth dynamic range is comparable with previously observed scatter amongst other laboratory data gathered in the slow wave range. Strong normalized growth rates are observed at low wave steepnesses, implying an efficient wave-coherent tangential stress contribution. Data obtained during this study show quantitative agreement with the predictions of others of the interactions between short wind waves and the longer lower-frequency waves. Measured normalized wave growth rates are consistent with numerically predicted growth due to wave drag augmented by significant wave-coherent tangential stress.

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Papers
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Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 608 , 10 August 2008 , pp. 243 - 274
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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