Shear at the surface of a lake in light winds
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Date
1991-04-15
Authors
Kenney, Bernard C.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
Abstract
Standard computer cards released at 1-min intervals from the same point beneath a hydrometeorological tower were observed to segregate by color according to their depth of integration of the current. Green cards floated flat at the lake surface. Orange cards, on the other hand, curved downward when placed on the lake surface and averaged the currents in the top 1 cm. The separation of the cards into two distinct plumes resulted from wind-directed shear in the first centimeter below the surface that was superimposed upon a barotropic current flowing crosswind. Using time-lapse aerial photography, the magnitude and direction of the shear was quantified. The mean shear in the top cm was 3.5 s-1 and was aligned with the mean wind direction. The wind-directed shear was similar to that expected for a viscous sublayer in light winds.
Description
Keywords
Shear, Surface, Lake, Wind