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Wind Stress and Heat Flux over the Ocean in Gale Force Winds
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1980
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EngineeringOffshore TechnologyOceanographyMarine EngineeringWind EngineeringEarth ScienceOffshore Stable PlatformMarine MeteorologyHeat FluxAtmospheric ScienceOffshore Wind EnergyOffshore PlatformWind StressMeteorologyOffshore SystemsGale Force WindsOcean EngineeringPhysical OceanographyAerospace EngineeringCivil EngineeringWind TurbulenceAerodynamics
An offshore stable platform equipped with wind turbulence, temperature, and wave‑height sensors was used to measure wind stress and heat flux. Eddy‑correlation analysis extended wind stress and heat‑flux measurements to 6–22 m s⁻¹, revealing that the sea‑surface drag coefficient increases with wind speed, sensible heat fluxes cover a wider range than before, and heat‑flux coefficients are higher under unstable conditions but do not rise with wind speed.
An offshore stable platform has been instrumented with wind turbulence, temperature and wave height sensors. Data from this platform have been analyzed by the eddy correlation method to obtain wind stress and heat flux at wind speeds from 6 to 22 m s−1 in a deep-water wave regime, significantly extending the range of available measurements. The sea surface drag coefficient increases gradually with increasing wind speed. Sensible heat fluxes have been observed over a much wider range than previously available. Heat flux coefficients are higher in unstable than stable conditions, but are not seen to increase with increasing wind speed.