Breaking Ocean Waves

This book represents the most comprehensive description of the physical findings of an investigation into the spatio-temporal characteristics of the gravity of breaking waves and the foam activity in open sea by methods and instruments of optical and microwave remote sensing.

The study of physical and electrodynamics' properties of the gravity wave breaking processes and the foam spatio-temporal activity is an important facet of satellite oceanography, ocean engineering, air-sea interaction and ocean remote sensing. In particular, the contribution of foam formations of various types to the mean and the spatio-temporal variations of radio emission, back-scattering, IR and optical parameters of the disturbed sea surface is highly significant. The statistical characteristics of wave breaking and attendant foam forming are very important to ocean wave dynamics. The study and measurement of spatio-temporal characteristics of wave breaking and sea foam formations are of fundamental importance in ocean remote sensing.

Much emphasis is placed on the physical aspects of breaking processes necessary to measure the possibilities and limitations of remote sensing methods in specific observation cases of an oceanic surface. Numerous practical applications and illustrations are provided from air-borne, ship-borne and laboratory up-to-date experiments.

Résumé
This book represents the most comprehensive description of the physical properties including geometry, structure, spatio-temporal evolution and remotely sensed reflectance and emissivity in visible, IR and microwave ranges of one of the most important elements of disturbed sea surface - sea waves breaking.

Contenu
and rationale.- Spatial stochastic breaking wave fields in the atmosphereocean system.- Linear and two-dimensional geometry of whitecapping and foam structures.- The lifetime dynamics of sea wave breakings.- The drop-spray phase over a rough sea surface.- Electrodynamics of a rough, disperse, closely packed media.- Electrodynamics of concentrated drop flows.- Field opticalmicrowave remote sensing of the airsea transition zone in the atmosphereocean system.- Conclusions.