Waves on the Surface of Fluids

Surface waves and turbulence

Surface waves and turbulence on the surface of the ocean present the largest energy reservoir in the ocean (18 TW compared with ~3.5 TW from the tides). Surface wave turbulence affects general circulation in the ocean, and as such, it may be partly responsible for the climate and its changes.

Waves on the surface of fluids can provide information about properties of the surface and of the fluid itself. The presence of thin films on the fluid surface significantly changes properties of the waves and is used for detection of the hydrocarbon films on the surface of the sea. The space-borne Synthetic Aperture Radars (SAR), monitor large areas in the ocean and rely on measurements of the surface wave damping in the presence of thin oil films.

Remote characterization of the film thickness remains a challenging problem. We study the effects of thin films on the spectra of capillary wave turbulence. Waves on the fluid surface are parametrically excited in a vibrating container and detected using optical and microwave scattering techniques.