Seminar: Dr. Isaac Ginis, University of Rhode Island

Advancing operational hurricane prediction systems through enhanced physics of the air-sea-wave coupling (Host: Rick Leuttich)

The forecast operations of both NOAA’s National Hurricane Center and the U.S. Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center require more accurate HWRF and GFDL models for improved model guidance and as integral parts of ongoing multi-model ensemble forecast efforts.  This presentation focuses on the major upgrades to the air-sea coupling components of these models that are based on a comprehensive, physics-based treatment of the wind-wave-current interaction. In the new air-sea modeling framework, the surface boundary conditions of the atmospheric model incorporate the sea-state dependent air-sea momentum flux. The wave model is forced by the sea-state dependent wind stress and includes the ocean surface current effect. The ocean model is forced by the sea-state dependent momentum flux and includes the Coriolis-Stokes and wave growth/decay effects. In addition, the upper-ocean turbulence is modified by the Stokes drift of the surface waves because of the Craik-Leibovich vortex force (Langmuir turbulence).