A Novel Sea Surface Roughness Parameterization Based on Wave State and Sea Foam

A wave state related sea surface roughness parameterization scheme that takes into account the impact of sea foam is proposed in this study. Using eight observational datasets, the performances of two most widely used wave state related parameterizations are examined under various wave conditions. Based on the different performances of two wave state related parameterizations under different wave state, and by introducing the effect of sea foam, a new sea surface roughness parameterization suitable for low to extreme wind conditions is proposed. The behaviors of drag coefficient predicted by the proposed parameterization match the field and laboratory measurements well. It is shown that the drag coefficient increases with the increasing wind speed under low and moderate wind speed conditions, and then decreases with increasing wind speed, due to the effect of sea foam under high wind speed conditions. The maximum values of the drag coefficient are reached when the 10 m wind speeds are in the range of 30–35 m/s.

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On the Impact of Sea State on GNSS-R Polarimetric Observations

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-21823 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Mostafa Hoseini ◽

Maximilian Semmling ◽

Erik Rennspiess ◽

Markus Ramatschi ◽

Rüdiger Haas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Surface Roughness ◽

Tide Gauge ◽

Empirical Relation ◽

Sea Surface ◽

Sea State ◽

Sea Levels ◽

Wind Speeds ◽

Sea Surface Roughness ◽

Different Response ◽

The Impact

We investigate a long-term ground-based GNSS-R dataset to evaluate the effect of sea state on the polarization of the reflected signals. The dataset consists of one-year polarimetric observations recorded at Onsala space observatory in Sweden in 2016 using right- and left-handed circular polarization (RHCP and LHCP) antennas. One up-looking antenna to receive direct signal and two side-looking antennas to collect reflections are installed at about 3 meters above sea level. The data is collocated with the measurements from a nearby tide-gauge and meteorological station.We focus on precise power estimation using a polarimetric processor based on Lomb&#8211;Scargle periodogram at precisely observed sea levels. The processor converts 0.1 Hz coherent in-phase and quadrature correlation sums provided by a reflectometry receiver to power estimates of the direct and reflected signals. The power estimates are reduced to three power ratios, i.e. cross-, co-, and cross to co-polarization. A model, describing the elevation dependent power loss due to sea surface roughness, is then utilized to invert the calculated power ratios to the standard deviation of sea surface height.Analysis of about 14000 events found in the dataset (~40 continuous tracks per day) shows a fair agreement with the wind speeds as an indicator of the sea state. Although an increasing sensitivity to sea state is observed for all the power ratios at elevation angles above 10 degrees, the measurements from the co-polar link seem to be less affected by the surface roughness. The results reveal that the existing model cannot predict the effect of sea surface roughness in a comprehensive way. The different response of RHCP and LHCP observations to roughness is evident, however, the polarization dependence is not covered by the model. The deviations from the model are particularly clear at lowest elevations (<5 deg) where the roughness effect is expected to vanish. The results indicate that roughness also affect observations at lowest elevation angles. In this elevation range the expected dominance of the RHCP component above the LHCP component is not observed.&#160; A different approach is required to model the influence of sea state in GNSS-R. The increasing amount of reflectometry data may allow to retrieve an empirical relation between coherent reflection power and sea state in future investigation.

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Prediction of Extreme Wind Speed for Offshore Wind Farms Considering Parametrization of Surface Roughness

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14041033 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (4) ◽

pp. 1033

Author(s):

Xinwen Ma ◽

Yan Chen ◽

Wenwu Yi ◽

Zedong Wang

Keyword(s):

Surface Roughness ◽

Wind Speed ◽

Wind Field ◽

Wind Farms ◽

Sea Surface ◽

Offshore Wind ◽

Offshore Wind Farms ◽

Sea Surface Roughness ◽

Extreme Wind ◽

Extreme Wind Speed

Large-scale offshore wind farms (OWF) are under construction along the southeastern coast of China, an area with a high typhoon incidence. Measured data and typhoon simulation model are used to improve the reliability of extreme wind speed (EWS) forecasts for OWF affected by typhoons in this paper. Firstly, a 70-year historical typhoon record database is statistically analyzed to fit the typhoon parameters probability distribution functions, which is used to sample key parameters when employing Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS). The sampled typhoon parameters are put into the Yan Meng (YM) wind field to generate massive virtual typhoon in the MCS. Secondly, when typhoon simulation carried out, the change in wind field roughness caused by the wind-wave coupling is studied. A simplified calculation method for realizing this phenomenon is applied by exchanging roughness length in the parametric wind field and wave model. Finally, the extreme value theory is adopted to analyze the simulated typhoon wind data, and results are verified using measured data and relevant standards codes. The EWS with 50-year recurrence of six representative OWF is predicted as application examples. The results show that the offshore EWS is generally stronger than onshore; the reason is sea surface roughness will not keep growing accordingly as the wind speed increases. The traditional prediction method does not consider this phenomenon, causing it to overestimate the sea surface roughness, and as a result, underestimate the EWS for OWF affected by typhoons. This paper’s methods make the prediction of EWS for OWF more precise, and results suggest the planer should choose stronger wind turbine in typhoon prone areas.

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Relationship between Sea Surface Drag Coefficient and Wave State

Journal of Marine Science and Engineering ◽

10.3390/jmse9111248 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 1248

Author(s):

Jian Shi ◽

Zhihao Feng ◽

Yuan Sun ◽

Xueyan Zhang ◽

Wenjing Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drag Coefficient ◽

Momentum Flux ◽

Sea Surface ◽

Sea Spray ◽

Wave Age ◽

High Wind ◽

Surface Drag ◽

Wave State ◽

Wind Speeds ◽

Strong Winds

The sea surface drag coefficient plays an important role in momentum transmission between the atmosphere and the ocean, which is affected by ocean waves. The total air–sea momentum flux consists of effective momentum flux and sea spray momentum flux. Sea spray momentum flux involves sea surface drag, which is largely affected by the ocean wave state. Under strong winds, the sea surface drag coefficient (CD) does not increase linearly with the increasing wind speed, namely, the increase of CD is inhibited by strong winds. In this study, a sea surface drag coefficient is constructed that can be applied to the calculation of the air–sea momentum flux under high wind speed. The sea surface drag coefficient also considers the influence of wave state and sea spray droplets generated by wave breaking. Specially, the wave-dependent sea spray generation function is employed to calculate sea spray momentum flux. This facilitates the analysis not only on the sensitivity of the sea spray momentum flux to wave age, but also on the effect of wave state on the effective CD (CD, eff) under strong winds. Our results indicate that wave age plays an important role in determining CD. When the wave age is >0.4, CD decreases with the wave age. However, when the wave age is ≤0.4, CD increases with the wave age at low and moderate wind speeds but tends to decrease with the wave age at high wind speeds.

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Influence of sea surface roughness length parameterization on Mistral and Tramontane simulations

Advances in Science and Research ◽

10.5194/asr-13-107-2016 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 13 ◽

pp. 107-112 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Anika Obermann ◽

Benedikt Edelmann ◽

Bodo Ahrens

Keyword(s):

Surface Roughness ◽

Wind Speed ◽

Wind Direction ◽

Roughness Length ◽

Western Mediterranean ◽

Sea Surface ◽

Surface Roughness Length ◽

Sea Surface Roughness ◽

Simulated Wind ◽

Simulated Wind Speed

Abstract. The Mistral and Tramontane are mesoscale winds in southern France and above the Western Mediterranean Sea. They are phenomena well suited for studying channeling effects as well as atmosphere–land/ocean processes. This sensitivity study deals with the influence of the sea surface roughness length parameterizations on simulated Mistral and Tramontane wind speed and wind direction. Several simulations with the regional climate model COSMO-CLM were performed for the year 2005 with varying values for the Charnock parameter α. Above the western Mediterranean area, the simulated wind speed and wind direction pattern on Mistral days changes depending on the parameterization used. Higher values of α lead to lower simulated wind speeds. In areas, where the simulated wind speed does not change much, a counterclockwise rotation of the simulated wind direction is observed.

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Influence of Wave State and Sea Spray on the Roughness Length: Feedback on Medicanes

Atmosphere ◽

10.3390/atmos9080301 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. 301 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Umberto Rizza ◽

Elisa Canepa ◽

Antonio Ricchi ◽

Davide Bonaldo ◽

Sandro Carniel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Surface Roughness ◽

Single Case ◽

Wind Waves ◽

Wave Model ◽

Atmospheric Model ◽

Sea Surface ◽

Sea Spray ◽

High Wind ◽

Wave State ◽

Sea Surface Roughness

Occasionally, storms that share many features with tropical cyclones, including the presence of a quasi-circular “eye” a warm core and strong winds, are observed in the Mediterranean. Generally, they are known as Medicanes, or tropical-like cyclones (TLC). Due to the intense wind forcings and the consequent development of high wind waves, a large number of sea spray droplets—both from bubble bursting and spume tearing processes—are likely to be produced at the sea surface. In order to take into account this process, we implemented an additional Sea Spray Source Function (SSSF) in WRF-Chem, model version 3.6.1, using the GOCART (Goddard Chemistry Aerosol Radiation and Transport) aerosol sectional module. Traditionally, air-sea momentum fluxes are computed through the classical Charnock relation that does not consider the wave-state and sea spray effects on the sea surface roughness explicitly. In order to take into account these forcing, we implemented a more recent parameterization of the sea surface aerodynamic roughness within the WRF surface layer model, which may be applicable to both moderate and high wind conditions. The implemented SSSF and sea surface roughness parameterization have been tested using an operative model sequence based on COAWST (Coupled Ocean Atmosphere Wave Sediment Transport) and WRF-Chem. The third-generation wave model SWAN (Simulating Waves Nearshore), two-way coupled with the WRF atmospheric model in the COAWST framework, provided wave field parameters. Numerical simulations have been integrated with the WRF-Chem chemistry package, with the aim of calculating the sea spray generated by the waves and to include its effect in the Charnock roughness parametrization together with the sea state effect. A single case study is performed, considering the Medicane that affected south-eastern Italy on 26 September 2006. Since this Medicane is one of the most deeply analysed in literature, its investigation can easily shed some light on the feedbacks between sea spray and drag coefficients.

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Descriptions of Sea-Surface Roughness and Drag Coefficient Based on Windsea Parameters

Journal of Japan Society of Civil Engineers Ser B2 (Coastal Engineering) ◽

10.2208/kaigan.66.96 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 66 (1) ◽

pp. 96-100

Author(s):

Yuji SUGIHARA ◽

Takuya ANDO ◽

Takuro SAEKI ◽

Shigeatsu SERIZAWA ◽

Hiroshi YOSHIOKA

Keyword(s):

Surface Roughness ◽

Drag Coefficient ◽

Sea Surface ◽

Sea Surface Roughness

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The impact of atmosphere-ocean-wave coupling on extreme surface wind forecasts

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-1273 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Emanuele Silvio Gentile ◽

Suzanne L. Gray ◽

Janet F. Barlow ◽

Huw W. Lewis ◽

John M. Edwards

Keyword(s):

Wind Speed ◽

Wind Waves ◽

Surface Wind ◽

Computational Cost ◽

Sea Surface ◽

Model Systems ◽

Sea State ◽

Extreme Surface ◽

Wind Speeds ◽

The Impact

Accurate modelling of air-sea surface exchanges is crucial for reliable extreme surface wind forecasts.&#160; While atmosphere-only weather forecast models represent ocean and wave effects through sea-state independent parametrizations, coupled multi-model systems capture sea-state dynamics by integrating feedbacks between atmosphere, ocean and wave model components.Here, we present the results of studying the sensitivity of extreme surface wind speeds to air-sea exchanges at kilometre scale using coupled and uncoupled configurations of the Met Office's UK Regional Coupled Environmental Prediction (UKC4) system. The case period includes the passage of extra-tropical cyclones Helen, Ali, and Bronagh, which brought maximum gusts of 36 ms-1 over the UK.Compared to the atmosphere-only results, coupling to ocean decreases the domain-average sea surface temperature by up to 0.5 K. Inclusion of coupling to waves decreases the 98th percentile 10-m wind speed by up to 2 ms-1 as young, growing wind waves decrease wind speed by increasing the sea aerodynamic roughness. Impacts on gusts are more modest, with local reductions of up to 1ms -1, due to enhanced boundary-layer turbulence which partially offsets air-sea momentum transfer.Using a new drag parametrization based on the COARE~4.0 scheme, with a cap on the neutral drag coefficient and decrease for wind speeds exceeding 27 ms-1 , the atmosphere-only model achieves equivalent impacts on 10-m wind speeds and gusts as from coupling to waves. Overall, the new drag parametrization achieves the same 20% improvement in forecast 10-m wind skill as coupling to waves, with&#160; the&#160; advantage&#160; of saving the computational cost of the ocean and wave models.&#160;

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Effects of Modified Surface Roughness Length over Shallow Waters in a Regional Model Simulation

Atmosphere ◽

10.3390/atmos10120818 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

pp. 818

Author(s):

So-Young Kim ◽

Song-You Hong ◽

Young Cheol Kwon ◽

Yong Hee Lee ◽

Da-Eun Kim

Keyword(s):

Surface Roughness ◽

Wind Speed ◽

Roughness Length ◽

Control Experiment ◽

Lower Troposphere ◽

Sea Surface ◽

Shallow Waters ◽

Surface Roughness Length ◽

Sea Surface Roughness ◽

Modified Surface

The effects of modified sea-surface roughness length over shallow waters are examined in a regional climate simulation over East Asia centered on the Korean Peninsula, using the Advanced Research Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF-ARW). The control experiment calculates the sea-surface roughness length as a function of friction velocity based on the Charnock relationship. The experiment considering water depth in the sea-surface roughness length over shallow waters is compared with the control experiment. In the experiment considering water depth, the excessive near-surface wind speed over shallow waters is reduced compared to that of the control experiment. Wind speed is reduced also in the lower troposphere. The effects of modified surface roughness over shallow waters are not localized to the lower troposphere but extended into the upper troposphere. Through the vertical interaction between the lower and upper levels, upper tropospheric wind—which is underestimated in the control experiment—is enhanced in the experiment with modified sea-surface roughness length, not only over the shallow waters, but also over the entire domain. As a result, the vertical shear of zonal wind increases, leading to the enhancement of the negative meridional temperature gradient in the mid troposphere.

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Hurricane Surface Wind Measurements from an Operational Stepped Frequency Microwave Radiometer

Monthly Weather Review ◽

10.1175/mwr3454.1 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 135 (9) ◽

pp. 3070-3085 ◽

Cited By ~ 192

Author(s):

Eric W. Uhlhorn ◽

Peter G. Black ◽

James L. Franklin ◽

Mark Goodberlet ◽

James Carswell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wind Speed ◽

Drag Coefficient ◽

Surface Wind ◽

Surface Wind Speed ◽

Model Function ◽

Near Surface ◽

Wind Speeds ◽

Extreme Wind ◽

High Bias ◽

Stepped Frequency

Abstract For the first time, the NOAA/Aircraft Operations Center (AOC) flew stepped frequency microwave radiometers (SFMRs) on both WP-3D research aircraft for operational hurricane surface wind speed measurement in 2005. An unprecedented number of major hurricanes provided ample data to evaluate both instrument performance and surface wind speed retrieval quality up to 70 m s−1 (Saffir–Simpson category 5). To this end, a new microwave emissivity–wind speed model function based on estimates of near-surface winds in hurricanes by global positioning system (GPS) dropwindsondes is proposed. For practical purposes, utilizing this function removes a previously documented high bias in moderate SFMR-measured wind speeds (10–50 m s−1), and additionally corrects an extreme wind speed (>60 m s−1) underestimate. The AOC operational SFMRs yield retrievals that are precise to within ∼2% at 30 m s−1, which is a factor of 2 improvement over the NOAA Hurricane Research Division’s SFMR, and comparable to the precision found here for GPS dropwindsonde near-surface wind speeds. A small (1.6 m s−1), but statistically significant, overall high bias was found for independent SFMR measurements utilizing emissivity data not used for model function development. Across the range of measured wind speeds (10–70 m s−1), SFMR 10-s averaged wind speeds are within 4 m s−1 (rms) of the dropwindsonde near-surface estimate, or 5%–25% depending on speed. However, an analysis of eyewall peak wind speeds indicates an overall 2.6 m s−1 GPS low bias relative to the peak SFMR estimate on the same flight leg, suggesting a real increase in the maximum wind speed estimate due to SFMR’s high-density sampling. Through a series of statistical tests, the SFMR is shown to reduce the overall bias in the peak surface wind speed estimate by ∼50% over the current flight-level wind reduction method and is comparable at extreme wind speeds. The updated model function is demonstrated to behave differently below and above the hurricane wind speed threshold (∼32 m s−1), which may have implications for air–sea momentum and kinetic energy exchange. The change in behavior is at least qualitatively consistent with recent laboratory and field results concerning the drag coefficient in high wind speed conditions, which show a fairly clear “leveling off” of the drag coefficient with increased wind speed above ∼30 m s−1. Finally, a composite analysis of historical data indicates that the earth-relative SFMR peak wind speed is typically located in the hurricane’s right-front quadrant, which is consistent with previous observational and theoretical studies of surface wind structure.

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Intense and Extreme Wind Speeds Observed by Anemometer and Seismic Networks: An Eastern U.S. Case Study

Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology ◽

10.1175/jamc-d-14-0091.1 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 53 (11) ◽

pp. 2417-2429 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

S. C. Pryor ◽

R. Conrick ◽

C. Miller ◽

J. Tytell ◽

R. J. Barthelmie

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Wind Speed ◽

Eastern United States ◽

High Wind ◽

Synoptic Scale ◽

Near Surface ◽

Wind Speeds ◽

Extreme Wind ◽

Wind Events ◽

The Impact

AbstractThe scale and intensity of extreme wind events have tremendous relevance to determining the impact on infrastructure and natural and managed ecosystems. Analyses presented herein show the following. 1) Wind speeds in excess of the station-specific 95th percentile are coherent over distances of up to 1000 km over the eastern United States, which implies that the drivers of high wind speeds are manifest at the synoptic scale. 2) Although cold fronts associated with extratropical cyclones are a major cause of high–wind speed events, maximum sustained and gust wind speeds are only weakly dependent on the near-surface horizontal temperature gradient across the front. 3) Gust factors (GF) over the eastern United States have a mean value of 1.57 and conform to a lognormal probability distribution, and the relationship between maximum observed GF and sustained wind speed conforms to a power law with coefficients of 5.91 and −0.499. Even though there is coherence in the occurrence of intense wind speeds at the synoptic scale, the intensity and spatial extent of extreme wind events are not fully characterized even by the dense meteorological networks deployed by the National Weather Service. Seismic data from the USArray, a program within the Earthscope initiative, may be suitable for use in mapping high-wind and gust events, however. It is shown that the seismic channels exhibit well-defined spectral signatures under conditions of high wind, with a variance peak at frequencies of ~0.04 s−1 and an amplitude that appears to scale with the magnitude of observed wind gusts.

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