The impact of ocean waves on spray stress and surface drag coefficient

Abstract

Purpose

The behaviors of sea surface drag coefficient should be well understood for an accurate hurricane prediction. The speed of wind has been applied to characterize the spray production; however, this could result in inaccurate spray productions compared to the experimental or field data if the influence of wave state is not considered. This paper aims to integrate a new sea spray generation function, described by windsea Reynolds number, into the spray momentum flux formula to calculate the spray momentum.

Design/methodology/approach

On the basis of this spray momentum, this study proposes the new formulas of spray stress and drag coefficient when the wind speed is high.

Findings

Results of the revised formulas show that wave status had significant effects on the spray stress and sea surface drag coefficient. Also, wave age was found to be an important parameter that affects the drag coefficient. The drag coefficient decreased with the increasing wave age. Comparison between this study’s theoretical and observation values of drag coefficient shows that the study results are close to the measured values.

Research limitations/implications

The research findings can enhance the understanding of the behaviors of sea surface drag for an accurate hurricane prediction.

Originality/value

A new sea spray generation function, described by windsea Reynolds number, is integrated into the spray momentum flux formula to calculate the spray momentum. On the basis of this spray momentum, this study proposes the new formulas of spray stress and drag coefficient when the wind speed is high.

Citation

Wan, Z., Li, L., Wu, Z., Chen, J. and Lü, X. (2019), "The impact of ocean waves on spray stress and surface drag coefficient", International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, Vol. 29 No. 2, pp. 523-535. https://doi.org/10.1108/HFF-05-2018-0237