On the generation of surface waves by turbulent shear flows

Abstract

The model proposed by Phillips (1957) for the generation of water waves by the random fluctluations of normal pressure already present in a turbulent wind is generalized to include energy transfer associated with the interaction between surface wave and mean air flow (Miles 1957). It is found that this energy transfer may increase by an order of magnitude the surface displacements produced by a given distribution of pressure fluctuations in the principal stage of development.