A STUDY OF THE ONSET OF WHITECAPPING WITH INCREASED SURFACE WIND SPEEDS; AND A REPORT ON A PRELIMINARY DRIFT-BOTTLE STUDY OF THE SURFACE CURRENTS OF LAKE SUPERIOR

At present, the existence of abrupt changes in the physical character of the sea surface at certain wind speeds is indicated by measurements of certain surface related quantities while measurements of other such quantities indicate only smooth transitions in the nature of the sea surface. The data currently available on the occurrence of whitecaps, one measure of the character of the sea surface, are contradictory. It is the purpose of this study to investigate the onset of whitecapping as a function of wind speed, atmospheric stability, and water temperature in order to determine whether the concentration of whitecaps increases abruptly with wind speed, in which case it will be of interest to see how this critical wind speed varies with atmospheric stability and water temperature, or whether whitecap concentration increases slowly with wind speed.

• Corporate Authors:

  Northern Michigan University, Marquette

  1401 Presque Isle Avenue
  Marquette, MI  United States  49885
• Authors:
  • Monahan, Edward C
• Publication Date: 1967-2

Media Info

• Pagination: 30 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Properties of the atmosphere; Water waves
• Old TRIS Terms: Atmospheric stability; Sea surface characteristics
• Subject Areas: Hydraulics and Hydrology; Marine Transportation; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00002146
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Defense Documentation Center
• Report/Paper Numbers: TR-1
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 30 1973 12:00AM