Predicting the Turbulent Air-Sea Surface Fluxes, Including Spray Effects, from Weak to Strong Winds

The goal is to investigate, through theory and by analyzing existing data, sea surface physics and air-sea exchange in winds that range from weak to hurricane-strength. Ultimately, we want to develop unified parameterizations for the fluxes of momentum, sensible and latent heat, and enthalpy across the air-sea interface. These flux parameterizations will provide improved model coupling between the ocean and the atmosphere and, in essence, set the lower flux boundary conditions on atmospheric models and the upper flux boundary conditions on ocean models. Prepared in collaboration with NorthWest Research Associates, Inc., Corvallis, OR.