A simple extension of "An alternative approach to sea surface aerodynamic roughness" by Zhiqiu Gao, Qing Wang, and Shouping Wang

• Published in: Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres Vol. 117; no. D16
• Main Authors: Gao, Zhiqiu, Wang, Linlin, Bi, Xueyan, Song, Qingtao, Gao, Yuchao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC Blackwell Publishing Ltd 27.08.2012; American Geophysical Union
• Subjects: Climate change; Earth; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Geophysics; Oceans; Physical oceanography; sea surface roughness length; experimental studies; waves; Friction velocity; Sea surface; Atmospheric condition; extension; Wind velocity; aluminum; phase velocity; acceleration; parametrization; roughness; humidity; age; Drag coefficient; Gravity
• ISSN: 0148-0227; 2169-897X; 2156-2202; 2169-8996
• DOI: 10.1029/2012JD017478

Based on the data previously collected during the Humidity Exchange over the Sea Main Experiment (HEXMAX), the methods used to parameterize aerodynamic roughness (z0), friction velocity (u*), and the neutral drag coefficient (CDN) under moderate wind speed conditions originally proposed by Gao et al. (2006) were extended by using the nondimensional significant wave height (gHs/u*2 or gHs/U10N2) instead of wave age (cp/u* or cp/U10N), where g is the acceleration of gravity, Hs is the significant wave height, U10Nis the horizontal wind speed at 10‐m height under the neutral atmospheric condition, andcp is the phase velocity of the peak wave spectrum. The results show (1) u* = 0.024U10N(gHs/U10N2)−1/4, (2) z0 = 10 × exp[−4.797(gHs/u*2)1/6] or z0 = 10 × exp[−16.613(gHs/U10N2)1/4], and (3) CDN = 0.007(gHs/u*2)−1/3 or CDN = 5.76 × 10−4(gHs/U10N2)−1/2. The present parameterization schemes were experimentally tested. Key Points Extension of previous work Using wave height instead of wave age Turbulent transfer depends on wave status