The dynamical coupling of a wave model and a storm surge model through the atmospheric boundary layer

Abstract

The effect of a wave-dependent drag coefficient on the generation of storm surges in the North Sea is studied. To this end, a barotropic storm surge model is driven by stresses that explicitly depend on the ocean waves. To estimate the effects of waves on the boundary layer the theory of Janssen is used. In this theory the aerodynamic drag depends on the fraction of the stress carried by the waves. For waves limited in growth by time, fetch, or depth this gives an enhancement of the drag. The importance to surges of radiation stress is also investigated. -from Authors