Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
well-documented observations is the parasitic capillary waves phase-
locked with short and steep gravity waves (e.g., Cox 1958, Ebuchi et al.
1987, Perlin et al. 1993). Longuet-Higgins (1963, 1992, 1995) presented
theoretical analyses describing a physical mechanism that produces para-
sitic capillary waves. The steep curvature near the crest of a short gravity
wave produces localized surface tension force that serves as the generator
of capillary waves. The capillary waves can maintain phase-locked with
the short gravity wave when their propagation speeds match. These capil-
lary waves decay very fast and the evolution processes are frequently
completed at the front phase of the crest of the short gravity wave. The
modulation properties of these waves are controlled by the viscous dissipa-
tion rather than wind forcing or breaking dissipation (Hwang 2002). This
feature is starting to be integrated into the study of surface wave spectral
models (e.g., Makin and Kudryavtsev 1999, Kudryavtsev et al. 1999).
More research remains to be carried out on short gravity and capillary-
gravity waves to gain a better understanding of their dynamics and evolu-
tion in the open ocean.
Acknowledgements.
Support of this research was sponsored by the Office
of Naval Research. [NRL Contribution PP/7330-98-0048].
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