Spectral Wave–Turbulence Decomposition

Abstract A new method of wave–turbulence decomposition is introduced, for which the only instrument required is one high-frequency pointwise velocity sensor. This is a spectral method that assumes equilibrium turbulence and no wave–turbulence interaction. Nonetheless, laboratory and field experiments show that the new method produces results in good agreement with the results of established wave–turbulence decomposition methods. Therefore, this spectral method proves useful when neither a synchronized wave gauge, nor a second velocimeter, is available. Furthermore, this study indicates that uncertainty in velocimeter probe orientation is responsible for most of the wave bias occurring in turbulent velocity data, so that an accurate measurement of this orientation makes wave–turbulence decomposition unnecessary.