Open AccessFrequency‐wavenumber spectrum of wind‐generated gravity‐capillary waves
Author(s) -
Hara Tetsu,
Bock Erik J.,
Donelan Mark
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: oceans
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/96jc03229
Subject(s) - gravity wave , infragravity wave , wavenumber , mechanical wave , physics , wave propagation , wind wave , dispersion (optics) , dispersion relation , geophysics , longitudinal wave , gravitational wave , geology , mechanics , optics , thermodynamics , astrophysics
Spatial‐temporal information on wind‐generated gravity‐capillary waves is obtained using a scanning laser slope gauge in a wind wave flume. The results show that a significant portion of short wind wave energy may be contained in wave modes that propagate with the dominant waves rather than at their phase speeds predicted by the dispersion relation. Double‐peaked directional spreading of the spectrum is observed in a certain range of wavenumber and wind stress. A close examination of such results suggests that nonlinear interactions may take place between short waves and higher harmonics of dominant waves or among short waves and enhance the growth of short waves in oblique directions.