ATTENUATION OF GRAVITY WAVES BY TURBULENCE

Abstract

We report new laboratory measurements of the interaction between mechanically-generated gravity waves and turbulence generated by simulated rain. Wave attenuation coefficients and vertical profiles of turbulent velocity fluctuations were measured. Observations are in broad agreement with Teixeira and Belcher (2002) despite substantial differences between assumed and measured turbulence profiles. Wave attenuation due to surface turbulence appears to be stronger than theoretical estimates. These finding could have significant implications for the next generation of spectral wave models and the understanding of wave dissipation processes.