Can a spray infused boundary layer alter the air-sea momentum transfer rates in high winds

rosenstiel school sustain

The goal of this project was to determine the effect that sea spray has on the bulk momentum transfer coefficient between the air and water in very high winds. To achieve this goal a series of comprehensive laboratory experiments was designed to isolate and quantify the spray effects on the momentum transfer. We have tested new approaches for defining spray concentration profiles and have conducted observations with existing technology to better define the size distributions of the spray. We have expanded these observations to very small particles and have observed a well defined size spectrum. A series of spray related papers has significantly contributed to our understanding of the spray generation processes in high winds and the vertical distribution of that spray. We have also highlighted differences between saltwater and freshwater spume generation that were not previously known.

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