ON SMALL SCALE BREAKING WAVES
It is shown that the surface wind drift in the ocean substantially reduces the maximum wave height and wave orbital velocity that can be attained before breaking. Incipient breaking is characterized by the occurrence of stagnation points at wave crests, but not by discontinuities in slope. After breaking, there is in the mean flow a stagnation point relative to the wave profile near the crest of the broken wave, on one side of which the water tumbles forward and behind which it recedes more smoothly to the rear. Flow visualization studies indicate the general extent of the wake behind the breaking region; it is shown to be turbulent but momentumless. (Author)
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Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/TR82
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Corporate Authors:
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore
Chesapeake Bay Institute
Baltimore, MD United States -
Authors:
- Banner, M L
- Phillips, O M
- Publication Date: 1973-7
Media Info
- Pagination: 31 p.
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Air water interfaces; Equations of motion; Flow visualization; Hydrodynamics; Ocean waves; Wave motion; Wind; Wind waves
- Old TRIS Terms: Air water interactions
- Subject Areas: Design; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Marine Transportation;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00051137
- Record Type: Publication
- Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
- ISBN: TR-82
- Report/Paper Numbers: Ref-73-8 Tech Rpt
- Contract Numbers: N00014-67A-0163-0009
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Feb 28 1974 12:00AM