Angular Distribution Effect on Weakly Nonlinear
Energy Transfer in the Spectrum of Wind Waves

I. V. Lavrenov* and F. J. Osampo-Torres**

* Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, ul. Beringa 38, St. Petersburg, 199226 Russia
** Center of Research and Higher Scientific Training, Physical Oceanography Division, Ensenada, Mexico

Received August 28, 1997; in final form, January 19, 1998

Abstract—The effect of angular distribution on weakly nonlinear energy transfer in the spectrum of wind
waves is studied. By using the numerical integration techniques of the highest accuracy, reliable results con-
cerning a weakly nonlinear energy transfer are obtained for the most representative approximations of wind
wave spectra. It is shown that a weakly nonlinear energy transfer is different from zero in a wide frequency–
angle region. Calculation results point to the existence of weakly nonlinear energy transfer to the spectral com-
ponents traveling in opposition to the wind direction. The theoretical studies provide an explanation for the
measured wind-wave spectrum containing spectral components traveling in opposition to the wind.

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