An investigation into the energetics of the surf zone and the interactions between turbulence and bubbles
Date
2001
Authors
Kendall, Roblyn
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Abstract
Bubbles and turbulence are produced by breaking waves in the surf zone. Measurements obtained during a field experiment at the beach near Scripps Pier in 1997 found dissipation rates measured beneath the wave troughs to be an order of magnitude less than the divergence of the wave energy flux. Estimates of the energy required to entrain air and the energy dissipated by bottom boundary friction were found to be too small to account for this difference. Most of the energy is therefore likely to be dissipated above the wave trough.
Turbulence acts to diffuse the bubbles throughout the water column. When the interval between successive breaking waves is less than the subsequent rise time or dissolution time of the bubbles, a persistent bubble cloud is generated. The interaction between bubbles and turbulence is also examined, and observations suggest bubbles do not have a significant effect on the turbulence.