New evidence for high kinetic energy dissipation beneath surface waves / Y.C. Agrawal [and seven others].: En13-5/92-04E-PDF

"Physical processes in the near surface layer of lakes and oceans play critical roles in the coupling between atmosphere and hydrosphere and in the circulation and mixing of water bodies. Unlike the atmospheric, boundary layer, the velocity structure is dominated by motions induced by wind-driven waves. However, these wave motions are largely irrotational and it is the rotational or turbulent motions that are central to the key questions of the diffusion of mass, momentum and energy. This paper examines one important aspect of turbulence - the kinetic energy dissipation in the surface layers. We present new observations supporting a much enhanced dissipation rate, close to the air-water interface, and discuss the controversy regarding the treatment of the near surface layer in analogy to wall-bounded shear flows. Our data suggest that the highly intermittent process of wave breaking may greatly increase dissipation rates above wall-layer estimates and invalidate short term measurements"--Abstract.

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