Deep Water Surface Gravity Wave Statistics from Stereo Imagery

Surface gravity waves in the deep ocean in large part influence the transfer of scalar (heat, gas, moisture) and vector (momentum) quantities through the air-sea interface. In order to accurately estimate these fluxes, we must first achieve a more robust understanding of the physical processes that drive them. Images from three high resolution digital video cameras deployed on R/P FlIP during the HIRES experiment in June 2010 are analyzed to obtain a dense record of surface elevation in space and time. Variable wind-wave fields, paired with simultaneous measurements (e.g. wind speed, large- scale wave field, surface currents, air-sea flux) from instruments deployed on FLIP provide an unprecedented opportunity to better understand wind-wave processes over many scales. This work focuses on quantifying the properties of small scale surface gravity waves (20cm-150cm) as they are forced by changing environmental conditions and as they interact with larger waves. Frequency and wavenumber spectra are presented for varying wind conditions (0-25 m/s). Results are presented on the response of the small waves to environmental conditions. The modulation of the small-scale wave field by larger scale waves is also examined.