Numerical study of wave breaking under wind forcing

Abstract

Wave breaking in marine environments frequently occurs under the influence of wind forcing, encompassing intricate processes of energy transfer and interfacial dynamics. This study numerically investigates wave breaking under a range of wind intensities, at high wave steepness conditions. Distinct from traditional studies focusing on wind-driven wave growth, the present work concentrates on energy evolution, spray droplet motion, and bubble dynamics. The results indicate that strong wind forcing significantly enhances the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) and energy dissipation rate within the water. Wind-driven droplets generated at the jet tip exhibit extended lifetimes and are transported in the wind direction due to complex interactions between initial momentum and turbulence. While the overall bubble count and size distribution remain nearly unaffected, increased wind intensity leads to a shallower vertical distribution of the bubble cloud centroid. These findings provide new insights into wind-induced wave breaking, with implications for understanding marine spray generation and air-sea interaction processes.