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A numerical investigation of variations in the drag coefficient for air flow above water waves
Author(s) -
Taylor P. A.,
Gent P. R.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
quarterly journal of the royal meteorological society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.744
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1477-870X
pISSN - 0035-9009
DOI - 10.1002/qj.49710444210
Subject(s) - drag coefficient , drag , parasitic drag , mechanics , flow (mathematics) , geology , meteorology , physics
Numerical predictions of the drag coefficient for air flow above a train of monochromatic water waves are presented. The air is assumed to be neutrally stratified, and the water surface aerodynamically rough, characterized by a local small‐scale roughness length Z o associated primarily with capillary waves. Details of the numerical model are described in an earlier paper. The variation of the drag coefficient with wave slope and with the ratio of wave phase speed to friction velocity is analysed. The applicability of the results to the sea is discussed in relation to the many observations of the drag coefficient.