Observing and understanding short gravity waves (INVITED)

Abstract eng:
The energy level and its directional distribution are key observations for understanding the energy balance in the wind-wave spectrum between wind-wave generation, non-linear interactions and dissipation. Here, properties of gravity waves are investigated from a fixed platform in the Black sea, equipped with a stereo-video system that resolves waves with frequency f up to 1.6 Hz, and wavelengths from 0.3 to 12 m. We made observations during 3 experiments in 2009, 2011 and 2013, in conditions with wind speeds ranging from 2 to 17 m/s, from the deep water platform of Katsiveli, operated by the Sebastopol Marine Hydrophysics Institute, off the coast of Crimea in the Black sea. The observations allow a measurement of the full frequency-wavenumber spectrum, revealing a strong variability of the shape of the short wave spectrum. This variability is possibly related to the wind speed and effects of the dominant waves. Possible processes that could reduce the input of energy from the wind or enhance the dissipation may explain the data and are under investigation.

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