Modeling whitecap fraction with a wave model

Brian Scanlon; Øyvind Breivik; Jean Raymond Bidlot; Peter A.E.M. Janssen; Adrian H. Callaghan; Brian Ward

doi:10.1175/JPO-D-15-0158.1

Modeling whitecap fraction with a wave model

Brian Scanlon
, Øyvind Breivik
, Jean Raymond Bidlot
, Peter A.E.M. Janssen
, Adrian H. Callaghan
, Brian Ward

Physics

University of Galway
Norwegian Meteorological Institute
European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts
Scripps Institution of Oceanography

Research output: Contribution to a Journal (Peer & Non Peer) › Article › peer-review

26 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

High-resolution measurements of actively breaking whitecap fraction (W_FA) and total whitecap fraction (W_FT) from the Knorr11 field experiment in the Atlantic Ocean are compared with estimates of whitecap fraction modeled from the dissipation source term of the ECMWF wave model. The results reveal a strong linear relationship between model results and observed measurements. This indicates that the wave model dissipation is an accurate estimate of total whitecap fraction. The study also reveals that the dissipation source term is more closely related to W_FA than W_FT, which includes the additional contribution from maturing (stage B) whitecaps.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	887-894
Number of pages	8
Journal	J. PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY
Volume	46
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1175/JPO-D-15-0158.1
Publication status	Published - 2016

Keywords

Atm/ocean structure/phenomena
Atmosphere-ocean interaction
Circulation/dynamics
Models and modeling
Numerical weather prediction/forecasting
Oceanic
Wave breaking
Waves

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10.1175/JPO-D-15-0158.1

Cite this

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title = "Modeling whitecap fraction with a wave model",

abstract = "High-resolution measurements of actively breaking whitecap fraction (WFA) and total whitecap fraction (WFT) from the Knorr11 field experiment in the Atlantic Ocean are compared with estimates of whitecap fraction modeled from the dissipation source term of the ECMWF wave model. The results reveal a strong linear relationship between model results and observed measurements. This indicates that the wave model dissipation is an accurate estimate of total whitecap fraction. The study also reveals that the dissipation source term is more closely related to WFA than WFT, which includes the additional contribution from maturing (stage B) whitecaps.",

keywords = "Atm/ocean structure/phenomena, Atmosphere-ocean interaction, Circulation/dynamics, Models and modeling, Numerical weather prediction/forecasting, Oceanic, Wave breaking, Waves",

author = "Brian Scanlon and {\O}yvind Breivik and Bidlot, \{Jean Raymond\} and Janssen, \{Peter A.E.M.\} and Callaghan, \{Adrian H.\} and Brian Ward",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2016 American Meteorological Society.",

year = "2016",

doi = "10.1175/JPO-D-15-0158.1",

language = "English",

volume = "46",

pages = "887--894",

journal = "J. PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY",

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publisher = "American Meteorological Society",

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}

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T1 - Modeling whitecap fraction with a wave model

AU - Scanlon, Brian

AU - Breivik, Øyvind

AU - Bidlot, Jean Raymond

AU - Janssen, Peter A.E.M.

AU - Callaghan, Adrian H.

AU - Ward, Brian

PY - 2016

Y1 - 2016

N2 - High-resolution measurements of actively breaking whitecap fraction (WFA) and total whitecap fraction (WFT) from the Knorr11 field experiment in the Atlantic Ocean are compared with estimates of whitecap fraction modeled from the dissipation source term of the ECMWF wave model. The results reveal a strong linear relationship between model results and observed measurements. This indicates that the wave model dissipation is an accurate estimate of total whitecap fraction. The study also reveals that the dissipation source term is more closely related to WFA than WFT, which includes the additional contribution from maturing (stage B) whitecaps.

AB - High-resolution measurements of actively breaking whitecap fraction (WFA) and total whitecap fraction (WFT) from the Knorr11 field experiment in the Atlantic Ocean are compared with estimates of whitecap fraction modeled from the dissipation source term of the ECMWF wave model. The results reveal a strong linear relationship between model results and observed measurements. This indicates that the wave model dissipation is an accurate estimate of total whitecap fraction. The study also reveals that the dissipation source term is more closely related to WFA than WFT, which includes the additional contribution from maturing (stage B) whitecaps.

KW - Atm/ocean structure/phenomena

KW - Atmosphere-ocean interaction

KW - Circulation/dynamics

KW - Models and modeling

KW - Numerical weather prediction/forecasting

KW - Oceanic

KW - Wave breaking

KW - Waves

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84961588860

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DO - 10.1175/JPO-D-15-0158.1

M3 - Article

SN - 0022-3670

VL - 46

SP - 887

EP - 894

JO - J. PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY

JF - J. PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY

IS - 3

ER -

Modeling whitecap fraction with a wave model

Abstract

Keywords

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