Wind Waves in the Coupled Climate System

Abstract

The role waves play in modulating interactions between oceans and atmosphere is emphasized. All exchanges (e.g., momentum, energy, heat, mass, radiation fluxes) are influenced by the geometrical and physical characteristics of the ocean surface, which separates the atmospheric and oceanic boundary layers. A qualitative overview of the main relevant surface gravity wave–driven processes at the air–sea interface that may have an important role in the coupled climate system in general and the atmospheric and oceanic boundary layers in particular is provided.