Passive acoustical measurements of scale, probability, and intensity of wave breaking

Abstract

New observations of breaking surface waves have recently been acquired with a novel acoustic instrument during the Surface Wave Processes Program. Several breaking wave parameters have been measured. This paper focuses on breaking scale, breaking probability, and radiated acoustic power from breaking waves. The breaking scale is derived from the travel speed of breaking waves. It is found that the mean scale is 46%-75% of the dominant wave phase speed, and that the radiated acoustic power is well correlated with the mean scale. The breaking probability is found to be consistent with a linear statistical model. Potential application of these results in estimating wave energy dissipation is discussed.<>