Modeling of Spatial Wind-Wave Correlations

Wind-tunnel measurements of three components of mean wind and turbulence quantities, above a rigid three-dimensional realization of ocean waves, are reported. Based on the measurements a model is proposed for the cross correlations between wind fluctuations and the wave surface, including phase relations between the different components. The experiments are novel in the sense that spatial correlations are measured above a realistic multicomponent ocean-like wave surface, defined through its energy spectrum. The relevance of the model to flows above moving water waves are discussed through comparisons with other experimental results, for both moving and stationary waves.