GEOMAR Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozeanforschung Kiel
Wischhofstr. 1-3
24148 Kiel
Tel.: 0431 600-0
Fax: 0431 600-2805
E-mail: info(at)geomar.de
17.11.2025: Ocean Circulation and Climate Dynamics Colloquium
Dr. Marc Buckley, Institute of Coastal Ocean Dynamics, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon: "Direct observations of airflow dynamics over ocean surface waves"
When? Monday 17 November 2025 at 11 am
Where? Conference Room 5-1.214, Building 5, Wischhofstr. 1-3 and online
via Meeting link:https://geomar.webex.com/geomar-en/j.php?MTID=ma73a9dd4db0f5cb6275b471e1c5e6005
Meeting number: 2789 008 5026
Password: nhPGUfGj553
Abstract:
A significant portion of the ocean’s kinetic energy originates from the growth of wind-driven surface waves, yet the precise mechanisms linking wind and waves remain poorly understood. Although several competing theories exist, direct observational evidence has been limited because measuring wind–wave interactions near the highly dynamic sea surface is technically challenging. Using laser imaging techniques from the Floating Instrument Platform (FLIP) in the Pacific Ocean, we captured airflow kinematics within the first millimeters to meters above ocean surface waves. These observations reveal two coexisting wind–wave coupling regimes: short, strongly wind-forced waves (≈ 1 m wavelength) that move slower than the wind and cause intermittent airflow separation—primarily interacting through a sheltering effect—and much longer, faster waves (≈ 100 m wavelength) that induce orbital motions in the airflow.
