The Influence of Wind Speed and Sea States on Whitecap Coverage

Callaghan and White(2009) put forward the automated whitecap extraction(AWE) technique to determine the whitecap coverage(W). An improved AWE was used to analyze images collected in the South China Sea during 2012 and 2013 and in western Pacific during 2015 to determine W. The influences of meteorological and oceanographic factors on whitecap coverage were investigated in this study. It is found that W increases with wind speed. Scale factor and exponent of parameterization for W(U10) vary greatly in different models. Overall, there is a larger scatter of W at low wind speed than at high wind speed. W decreases with the increasing of wave age. Compared with wind speed, the scatter of W is smaller with wave age, which means the impact of wave age on the whitecap coverage is more robust under various environmental conditions. There is no significant dependence on SST and whitecap coverage seems to weakly decrease with SST. W decreases with the atmospheric stability. Relationship between W and wind speed change when swells are dominant. Swell can suppress wave breaking and decrease W. The effect is independent of the deflection angle between wind wave and swell.

Comparison Study on Wind Input and Whitecapping Dissipation Expressions in Numerical Simulation of Typhoon-Generated Waves

In order to investigate the effect of wind input and whitecapping dissipation on the simulation of typhoon-waves, three experiments are conducted with the latest version of SWAN （Simulating WAves Nearshore） model. The three experiments adopt the Komen, Janssens, and Westhuysen expressions for wind input and whitecapping dissipation, respectively. Besides the above-mentioned source tems, other parameterization schemes in these experiments are the same. It shows that the experiment with the Westhuysen expression result in the least simulation errors while that with the Janssens expression has the most. The results from the experiments with Komen and Westhuysen expressions show that the differenees in significant wave height （SWH） have a good correlation with the differences in dissipation energy caused by whiteeapping. This indicates that the whitecapping dissipation source term plays an important role in the resultant differences of the simulated SWH between the two experiments.

Probabilistic Models for the Probability of Wave Breaking and Whitecap Coverage Based on Kinematic Breaking Criterion

More and more researches show that neither the critical downward acceleration nor the critical slope of water waves is a universal constant. On the contrary, they vary with particular wave conditions. This fact renders the models either for the probability of wave breaking B or for the whitecap coverage W based on these criteria difficult to apply. In this paper and the one which follows we seek to develop models for the prediction of both B and W based on the kinematical criterion. First, several joint probabilistic distribution functions (PDFs) of wave characteristics are derived, based on which the breaking properties B and W are estimated. The estimation is made on the assumption that a wave breaks if the horizontal velocity of water particles at its crest exceeds the local wave celerity, and whitecapping occurs in regions of fluid where water particles travel faster than the waves. The consequent B and W depend on wave spectral moments of orders 0 to 4. Then the JONSWAP spectrum is used to represent the fetch limited sea waves in deep water, so as to relate the probability of wave breaking and the whitecap coverage with wind parameters. To this end, the time averaging technique proposed by Glazman (1986) is applied to the estimation of the spectral moments involved, and furthermore, the theoretical models are compared with available observations collected from published literature. From the comparison, the averaging time scale is determined. The final models show that the probability of wave breaking as well as the whitecap coverage depends on the dimensionless fetch. The agreement between these models and the database is reasonable.

The improved model of estimating global whitecap coverage based on satellite data

The pro and con of whitecap parameterizations and a statistical wave breaking model are discussed. An improved model is derived by combining satellite-based parameterization and the wave breaking model. The appropriate constants for the general wave state are obtained by considering the breaking condition of the wave slope and fitting with the satellite-based parameterization. The result is close to the constants based on the whitecap data from Monahan. Comparing with satellite-based data and the original model＇s results, the improved model＇s results are consistent with satellite-based data and previous studies. The global seasonal distributions of the whitecap coverage averaged from 1998 to 2008 are presented. Spatial and seasonal features of the whitecap coverage are analyzed.

Parameterization of Wave Breaking Probability and Whitecap Coverage

The model for whitecap coverage and wave breaking probability are parameterized by the dimensionless wind fetch X^-. This paper aims at replacing X^- with other parameters such as the average wave period T^-, wind speed U10 or wave age ξ in order to improve the suitability and convenience of the model for application. First, W and B are expressed in terms of T^- and U10, which are relatively easy to measure in the field. Further, U10 is replaced with the friction velocity U. by use of the empirical relationship. As wave age has been widely used to parameterize spectral models of ocean waves and air-sea fluxes, W and B are then expressed as a simple function of wave age, respectively. The new forms of the model obtained are W= 1 - Ф（3.02ξ0＂76） and B = exp（ - 4.54ξ^1.52） . The two forms are mere applicable in pracrice, since ξ is relatively easy to measure or determine from wave and wind records. Comparisons between these expressions and data collected from published literature are made and agreement is fairly good.

Dependence of Estimating Whitecap Coverage on Currents and Swells

The shipboard measurements of whitecap coverage(W)and the meteorological and oceanographic information from two cruises in the South China Sea and Western Pacific are explored for estimating W.This study aims at evaluating how to im-prove the parameterizations of W while considering the effects of currents and swells on wave breaking.Currents indeed affect W in a way that winds with following currents can decrease W,whereas winds with opposing currents can increase W.Then,10-m wind speed over sea surface(U_(10))is calibrated by subtracting the current velocity from U_(10) when the propagating directions of winds and currents are aligned.By contrast,when the direction is opposite,U_(10) is calibrated by adding the parallel velocity com-ponent of the opposing current to U_(10).The power fits of W dependence on the U_(10)-related parameters of U_(10),friction velocity,wind sea Reynolds number in terms of this calibrated-U_(10) obtain better results than those directly fitted to U_(10).Different from the effect of currents on W,wind blowing along the crest line of swells may contribute to the increase in W.The conclusions suggest that U_(10) should be calibrated first before parameterizing W in areas with a strong current or some swell-dominant areas.

An analytically derived whitecap coverage model

Joint probability function of local surfaces-particle and phase velocities is derived for a stationary Gaussianwave field with narrow-band spectrum. From the function a model of whitecap coverage is further derived by using thekinematic condition (including the effect of drift current) for wave breaking. The drift current velocity in the model isthen replaced by the friction velocity through an existing empirical formula. A coefficient in the model for relating temporal and spatial scales of wave breaking is determined by using an existing empirical formula of oceanic whitecap coverage and the well-known Pierson-Moskowitz spectrum. The main features of the model agree well with our generalknowledge and observational evidence on wave breaking in deep waters.

Parameterization of the sea spray generation function with whitecap coverage

Sea spray droplets are produced by waves breaking on the sea surface, and they vary the transfer of energy between the atmosphere and ocean. The sea spray generation function(SSGF) is generally considered as a function of the initial radius of the spray droplets and the wind speed. However, ocean waves always exist at the air-sea interface, so it is not reasonable to consider only the effect of sea surface winds while ignoring the effects of ocean waves. Whitecap coverage is an important characteristic parameter of breaking waves, and researchers believe that this parameter is related to both wave state and wind speed. In this paper, the SSGF is parameterized by the whitecap coverage, and a new SSGF describing different droplet radii is organically integrated based on the whitecap coverage parameter. Then, with the relationship between the whitecap coverage and wave state, the influence of ocean waves on the SSGF for different wave states was analyzed by using observational data in the laboratory. The results show that the new SSGF that considers wave effects can reasonably describe the droplet generation process under different wave state conditions.

A Whitecap Coverage Model Based on the Surface Slope For Criterion of Wave Breaking

Using the limit surface slope as a criterion of wave breaking, a simple model for estimating the spatial fraction of breaking surface of sea at an instant, which is regarded as the whitecap coverge in this paper, is analytically derived from the probability density of surface slope based on Gaussian statistics. The resulting fraction is found depending on the fourth moment of wave spectum, m(4), as well as the critical threshold of surface slope. By expressing the fourth moment in terms of the Neumann spectrum, a formula linking the fraction and wind speed for fully developed sea states is obtianed. Another formula relating the fraction to both wind speed and fetch (or duration) is achieved by expressing m, in terms of the Krylov spectrum and applying the empirical relationships used in the SMB ocean wave predicting technique. A comparison between these results and the field data of whitecap coverage collected by Monahan and O'Muircheartuigh shows an encouraging agreement.

The effect of current and wave on whitecap coverage via relative speed:the Atlantic Ocean case

Whitecapping plays an important role in many air-sea exchange and upper ocean processes.Traditionally,whitecap coverage is parameterized as a function of wind speed only.At present,the relative speed of ocean current to wind is considered to be important in the air-sea exchange parameterization which is the function of wind speed only.In this paper,the effects of ocean surface velocity (current velocity and wave induced velocity) and the wave parameters on whitecap coverage through relative speeds are investigated,by applying a 2-parameter whitecap coverage model to the Atlantic Ocean.It is found that the impacts of both current and wave on whitecap coverage are considerable in the most part of the Atlantic Ocean.It is interesting that the effect of wave is more significant than that of current.

海洋白浪寿命的定义及测量结果

通过对国内外白浪研究和应用的分析，首次提出了有效白浪寿命的定义，给出了计算白浪寿命的公式及测量方法和结果，并报告了以此方法在渤海实测的结果，得到了白浪寿命TL海面风速U10的关系为：TL=0．26U10以及白浪寿命概率分布近于瑞和分布等。

影响海洋光学遥感的海面白泡云研究回顾及进展

回顾了国内外影响海洋光学遥感的白泡云的反射率和覆盖率的研究进展情况。根据海洋水色高光谱遥感发展的需要,指出应当开展海洋白泡云中信号白浪和白沫光学反射特征的测量和研究,以便评价和排除白泡云的反射分量在光学遥感中的干扰。

以海面质点垂向加速度为判据的白浪绘制

白浪绘制中常用海面高程、Jacobian行列式作为白浪生成的判据,但这两种方法缺乏海洋工程相关理论的支持,绘制结果不够逼真。针对上述问题,本文提出了以海面质点垂向加速度为判据的白浪绘制方法。推导了海面质点垂向加速度的快速傅里叶逆变换形式,并给出了以海面质点垂向加速度为变量的连续型白浪覆盖率随机函数,通过调整该函数的参数来控制白浪消逝的时间。实验结果表明:用该函数计算的白浪覆盖率均值与采用统计模型计算的白浪覆盖率相等。将该白浪覆盖率作为融合因子,融合白浪纹理像素颜色和海面像素颜色。本文提出的白浪绘制方法有合理的理论依据,计算量小,绘制的白浪与蒲氏风级对白浪的描述接近,帧率可以达到实时计算。

Microwave backscattering from the sea surface with breaking waves

Based on the effective medium approximation theory of composites, the whitecap-covered sea surface is treated as a medium layer of dense seawater droplets and air. Two electromagnetic scattering models of randomly rough surface are applied to the investigation of microwave backscattering of breaking waves driven by strong wind. The shapes of seawater droplets are considered by calculating the effective dielectric constant of the whitecap layer. The responses of seawater droplets shapes, such as sphere and ellipsoid, to the backscattering coefficient are discussed. Numerical results of the models are in good agreement with the experimental measurements of horizontally and vertically polarized backscattering at microwave frequency 13.9GHz and different incidence angles.

IKONOS影像白泡云识别方法研究

高空间分辨率IKONOS影像应用在海洋遥感时,白泡云的强反射特性严重影响了水体信息的提取。本文利用归一化处理后的IKONOS影像数据研究分析了白泡云与其背景地物的光谱特征。通过光谱一阶微分运算形成特定的数学参数使得地物的光谱特征参量化,提取白泡云光谱特征,研究开发了白泡云遥感识别模型。试验结果表明该识别方法准确度高,在识别水体中白泡云区域的基础上可有效处理海洋遥感水体信息提取过程中白泡云的干扰影响。

海洋白浪覆盖率模式的研究

在波面位移为均匀正态分布的假定下，导出了以海浪谱矩为参量的波面斜率分布函数。依此函数，利用极限波面斜率为波浪破碎判据导出依赖于海浪港四阶矩的白浪覆盖率的表示式。又通过Krylov谱和SMB海浪预报方法的经验公式，将海浪谱四阶矩代之以风要素，从而首次建立了一个依赖于风速和风区两者的半理论、半经验的海洋白浪覆盖率模式。此模式给出的结果与Monahan汇集的海洋白浪覆盖率测量数据符合颇佳。

活跃破碎的图像识别

破碎波峰线长度的速度谱Λ(c)及其高阶矩是研究破碎能量耗散、动量通量等关键问题的有效工具。活跃破碎的图像识别是正确计算Λ(c)的一个关键前提。Kleiss等2011年给出了一种基于对数累积灰度函数(L)的导函数区分活跃破碎与尾迹的阈值方法,但阈值的确定仍存在一定的主观性,得到的破碎阈值可能偏低。我们通过对渤海海域拍摄的白冠破碎观测资料的分析,发现L函数的二阶导数往往存在稳定的次峰,次峰所对应的灰度值正可作为区分活跃破碎与尾迹的灰度阈值,由此提出一种基于L函数二阶导数次峰的阈值确定方法。

风浪破碎对平衡域内谱形的影响

在实验室测得的大量风浪资料的基础上,经过谱分析和破波概率的计算,发现风浪破碎概率Pb与谱平衡域的频率指数P有指数关系:Pb∝exp(-3.88p)。当破碎概率2%～60%范围时,频率指数则在4.2～3.3变化。

白浪覆盖率模式中参量的研究

在波面位移为正态过程的假定下,推导出一种以平均周期和风速为参量的白浪覆盖率公式W=1-Φ〔5.11094〔T/U10〕0.7576〕。依据摩擦风速和U10的表达式,进一步推导出白浪覆盖率依赖于摩擦风速的形式W=1-Φ〔0.5227〔T/U*〕0.7576〕。考虑到在实际应用中,经常需要用波龄描述波浪的状态,将白浪覆盖率表示成一种形式简单的波龄的函数W=1-Φ(3.6496ξ0.7576),与Monahan等的海上测量数据符合良好。