Air–sea interaction
Air-sea interface with surging waves, Mull coastal waters, Scotland. @ C.Michael Hogan
Published: March 29, 2010, 12:00 am
Updated: January 10, 2012, 5:56 am
This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor:
Milton Beychok
Air–sea interaction describes the processes that involve the transfer of energy, matter, and momentum between the atmosphere and the ocean.
|
This article is written at a definitional level only. Authors wishing to improve this entry are inivited to expand the present treatment, which additions will be peer reviewed prior to publication of any expansion. |
This is one of the least well understood research topics of physical oceanography, with the theory inadequate and the data sparse. Specific areas with glaring gaps include the interaction of the wind and surface waves, the parameterization of subgrid scale processes in large–scale circulation models, and the transfer of gases across the air–sea interfaces.
Meteorology
A number of key meteorological and solar radiation effects are active at the air-sea interface; some of these key factors are:
-
Incident solar radiation affects ocean warming, but sea (or sea ice) albedo affects the atmosphere
-
Winds: atmospheric air flow influences the sea surface in terms of energy exchange and ocean currents
-
Temperature: atmospheric temperature and ocean temperature are instrumental in heat exchange
-
Lapse rate: the thermal gradients of the atmosphere affect the thermal exchange at the air-sea interface
Mass Exchange
There are a number of important matter exchange phenomena which are important for ecological, climate and pollution research. Some of the key aspects of matter exchange are:
See Also
Further Reading
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E. L. Deacon and E. K. Webb. Small-scale interactions. In M. N. Hill, editor, The Sea. Vol. I: Physical Oceanography, pages 43–87. Wiley, 1962.
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M. Donelan. Air sea interaction. In B. Le Mehaute and D. M. Haines, editors, The Sea, Vol. 9, Part A: Ocean Engineering Science, pages 239–292. J. Wiley & Sons, 1990.
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G. L. Geernaert. Bulk parameterizations for the wind stress and heat flux. In G. L. Geernaert and W. Plant, editors, Surface Waves and Fluxes, Vol. 1, pages 91–172. Kluwer Academic, 1990.
-
Eric B. Kraus and Joost A. Businger. Atmosphere-Ocean Interaction (2nd Ed.). Oxford Univ. Press, 1994.
-
David P. Rogers. Air–sea interaction: connecting the ocean and atmosphere. Rev. Geophys., 33 Supp.:?, 1995.
-
S. D. Smith, C. W. Fairall, G. L. Geernaert, and L. Hasse. Air–sea fluxes – 25 years of progress. Boundary Layer Meteorol., 78:247–290, 1996.
-
G. L. Geernaert. Historical perspective. In G. L. Geernaert, editor, Air–Sea Exchange: Physics, Chemistry and Dynamics, pages 1–24. Kluwer, 1999.
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Citation
Steve Baum, C Michael Hogan (Lead Author);Milton Beychok (Topic Editor) "Air–sea interaction". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth March 29, 2010; Last revised Date January 10, 2012; Retrieved June 18, 2013 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Air%E2%80%93sea_interaction>
The Authors
Assistant Research Scientist, Physical Section
Department of Oceanography
Texas A&M University ... (Full Bio)
Standing within a gentoo penguin colony on King George Island, Antarctica, Dr. C. Michael Hogan served a term as Editor in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Earth which ended in 2012. In addition to authoring a number of papers for the Encyclopedia of Earth, he is a physicist who has published over 1220 peer reviewed articles in other journals and government monographs in the fields of molecular biology, quantum spinwaves, atmospheric physics, biogeochemistry, hydrological modeling, species populat ... (Full Bio)
Air–sea interaction describes the processes that involve the transfer of energy, matter, and momentum between the atmosphere and the ocean.
|
This article is written at a definitional level only. Authors wishing to improve this entry are inivited to expand the present treatment, which additions will be peer reviewed prior to publication of any expansion. |
This is one of the least well understood research topics of physical oceanography, with the theory inadequate and the data sparse. Specific areas with glaring gaps include the interaction of the wind and surface waves, the parameterization of subgrid scale processes in large–scale circulation models, and the transfer of gases across the air–sea interfaces.
Meteorology
A number of key meteorological and solar radiation effects are active at the air-sea interface; some of these key factors are:
-
Incident solar radiation affects ocean warming, but sea (or sea ice) albedo affects the atmosphere
-
Winds: atmospheric air flow influences the sea surface in terms of energy exchange and ocean currents
-
Temperature: atmospheric temperature and ocean temperature are instrumental in heat exchange
-
Lapse rate: the thermal gradients of the atmosphere affect the thermal exchange at the air-sea interface
Mass Exchange
There are a number of important matter exchange phenomena which are important for ecological, climate and pollution research. Some of the key aspects of matter exchange are:
See Also
Further Reading
-
E. L. Deacon and E. K. Webb. Small-scale interactions. In M. N. Hill, editor, The Sea. Vol. I: Physical Oceanography, pages 43–87. Wiley, 1962.
-
M. Donelan. Air sea interaction. In B. Le Mehaute and D. M. Haines, editors, The Sea, Vol. 9, Part A: Ocean Engineering Science, pages 239–292. J. Wiley & Sons, 1990.
-
G. L. Geernaert. Bulk parameterizations for the wind stress and heat flux. In G. L. Geernaert and W. Plant, editors, Surface Waves and Fluxes, Vol. 1, pages 91–172. Kluwer Academic, 1990.
-
Eric B. Kraus and Joost A. Businger. Atmosphere-Ocean Interaction (2nd Ed.). Oxford Univ. Press, 1994.
-
David P. Rogers. Air–sea interaction: connecting the ocean and atmosphere. Rev. Geophys., 33 Supp.:?, 1995.
-
S. D. Smith, C. W. Fairall, G. L. Geernaert, and L. Hasse. Air–sea fluxes – 25 years of progress. Boundary Layer Meteorol., 78:247–290, 1996.
-
G. L. Geernaert. Historical perspective. In G. L. Geernaert, editor, Air–Sea Exchange: Physics, Chemistry and Dynamics, pages 1–24. Kluwer, 1999.
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