Reduction of air-sea momentum flux due to whitecap residual foam observed during a laboratory experiment
Abstract Whitecap foam, created by breaking waves, is a ubiquitous ocean surface feature. Full understanding of its role in the air-sea interaction is crucial for precise momentum flux parameterization which directly influences forecast accuracy, especially in hurricanes where whitecaps are pervasiv...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04118-w |
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| author | Meng Lyu Henry Potter Peisen Tan Brian K. Haus Milan Curcic Xin Yang |
| author_facet | Meng Lyu Henry Potter Peisen Tan Brian K. Haus Milan Curcic Xin Yang |
| author_sort | Meng Lyu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Whitecap foam, created by breaking waves, is a ubiquitous ocean surface feature. Full understanding of its role in the air-sea interaction is crucial for precise momentum flux parameterization which directly influences forecast accuracy, especially in hurricanes where whitecaps are pervasive. Despite its importance, the role of whitecap foam in air-sea interaction remains largely unexplored. This study uses a wind-wave tank and an artificial foam generator to study the impact of whitecap residual foam on air-sea coupling. We find that foam reduces momentum flux, indicative of a smoothed surface roughness, and reduces wave form stress across all wind speeds, with a more pronounced effect in surfactant-rich water. Foam also alters wave characteristics and airflow separation. These findings offer new insights into whitecap residual foam’s role in air–sea coupling and have implications for modelling hurricanes and other wind driven processes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5e533274deae4b019a3261bb1e16f56d |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-5e533274deae4b019a3261bb1e16f56d2025-08-20T02:05:41ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-06-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-04118-wReduction of air-sea momentum flux due to whitecap residual foam observed during a laboratory experimentMeng Lyu0Henry Potter1Peisen Tan2Brian K. Haus3Milan Curcic4Xin Yang5Department of Oceanography, College of Art and Science, Texas A&M UniversityDepartment of Oceanography, College of Art and Science, Texas A&M UniversityAtmospheric and Earth Science, Rosenstiel School of Marine, University of MiamiAtmospheric and Earth Science, Rosenstiel School of Marine, University of MiamiAtmospheric and Earth Science, Rosenstiel School of Marine, University of MiamiFrost Institute for Data Science and Computing, University of MiamiAbstract Whitecap foam, created by breaking waves, is a ubiquitous ocean surface feature. Full understanding of its role in the air-sea interaction is crucial for precise momentum flux parameterization which directly influences forecast accuracy, especially in hurricanes where whitecaps are pervasive. Despite its importance, the role of whitecap foam in air-sea interaction remains largely unexplored. This study uses a wind-wave tank and an artificial foam generator to study the impact of whitecap residual foam on air-sea coupling. We find that foam reduces momentum flux, indicative of a smoothed surface roughness, and reduces wave form stress across all wind speeds, with a more pronounced effect in surfactant-rich water. Foam also alters wave characteristics and airflow separation. These findings offer new insights into whitecap residual foam’s role in air–sea coupling and have implications for modelling hurricanes and other wind driven processes.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04118-w |
| spellingShingle | Meng Lyu Henry Potter Peisen Tan Brian K. Haus Milan Curcic Xin Yang Reduction of air-sea momentum flux due to whitecap residual foam observed during a laboratory experiment Scientific Reports |
| title | Reduction of air-sea momentum flux due to whitecap residual foam observed during a laboratory experiment |
| title_full | Reduction of air-sea momentum flux due to whitecap residual foam observed during a laboratory experiment |
| title_fullStr | Reduction of air-sea momentum flux due to whitecap residual foam observed during a laboratory experiment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reduction of air-sea momentum flux due to whitecap residual foam observed during a laboratory experiment |
| title_short | Reduction of air-sea momentum flux due to whitecap residual foam observed during a laboratory experiment |
| title_sort | reduction of air sea momentum flux due to whitecap residual foam observed during a laboratory experiment |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04118-w |
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