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Directional wind wave development
Author(s) -
Long Steven R.,
Huang Norden E.,
MolloChristensen Erik,
Jackson Frederick C.,
Geernaert Gerald L.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/94gl01916
Subject(s) - fetch , wind stress , geology , wind wave , wind wave model , wind gradient , wind direction , shore , surface wave , wind shear , infragravity wave , meteorology , significant wave height , asymmetry , geophysics , wind speed , atmospheric sciences , wave propagation , physics , optics , longitudinal wave , mechanical wave , geomorphology , oceanography , quantum mechanics
Using aircraft radar instruments designed for sea surface wave measurements, we have obtained fetch‐limited directional wind wave spectra under steady off‐shore wind conditions. The results from these observations in different areas at different times show that, up to a fetch of 150 km, the dominant waves propagate at an angle to the wind. The angle is near to that suggested by the Phillips resonance wind wave generation condition, but with one important difference: The waves are not always symmetric to the left and right of the wind. Most of the cases show the eventual dominance of one side lobe. The asymmetry of the wave direction relative to the wind suggests that the surface wind stress vector may not always be parallel to the mean wind direction.