STATISTICAL DEPENDENCIES OF SEA-STATE CHARACTERISTICS ON WATER TEMPERATURE AND WIND-WAVE AGE

The extensive data set of photogrammetric measurements of ocean surface fractions covered by whitecaps, S(w) and foam patches, S(f), is compiled. The correlation analysis confirms the reliability of the sea state characteristics dependencies on sea surface temperature, i.e. on sea water viscosity, which were found earlier on the base of a lesser statistical material. The friction velocity is determined for many cases of observation with taken into account not only the atmospheric stability but wind-wave age also. Correlations of S(w) and S(f) with friction velocity are found higher than with wind speed. Quantities S(w) and S(f) are functions of friction velocity, sea surface temperature and wind-wave age. Correlation equations which determine S(w), S(f), duration of wave crest breaking, and foam patches life-time dependencies on these factors are given.