Wind wave generation

When the wind blows over the ocean, it generates surface waves. The current theories can be traced back to the 50s’ [1,2], but the underlying mechanism are not yet fully understood. Following a recent experimental advance of Paquier et al. [3], we recently showed that the structures generated by the wind below the wind threshold are reminiscent of air pressure fluctuations [4].

The link between the reminiscent structures called wrinkles and the wind threshold is still to investigate. This work is done in collaboration with F. Moisy & M. Rabaud (Université Paris-Sud, FAST) and M. Benzaquen (Ecole Polytechnique, LadHyX)

[1] J. W. Miles, On the generation of surface waves by shear flows. J. Fluid Mech. 3, 185-204 (1957)

[2] O. M. Phillips, On the generation of waves by turbulent wind. J. Fluid Mech. 2 417-445 (1957)

[3] A. Paquier, F. Moisy and M. Rabaud, Viscosity effects in wind wave generation. Phys. Rev. Fluids 1, 083901 (2016)

[4] S. Perrard, A. Lozano-Duran, M. Rabaud, M. Benzaquen and F. Moisy, Turbulent windprint on a liquid surface, Under consideration at J. Fluid Mech. (2019)