Experimental Study of the Fine Structure
of the Wind Field near a Rough Surface

I. N. Ivanova, O. N. Mel’nikova, T. A. Nivina, and K. V. Pokazeev

Moscow State University, Vorob’evy gory, Moscow, 119992 Russia
e-mail: olamel@yandex.ru

Received July 13, 2005; in final form, December 20, 2005

Abstract—The air-flow velocity field near the water surface is studied in the zone of wind-wave intensification.
Caused by a periodic separation of eddies, a nonzero time-averaged value of the wind velocity in the near-water
streamline is detected at the leading slope of the wave. The distribution of pressure along the wave with allow-
ance for the vertical velocity shear and disturbances produced by eddies and a periodic deceleration of the vis-
cous layer was calculated with the aid of the Cauchy–Lagrange integral. This procedure made it possible to cal-
culate the growth rate of the wave amplitude, whose value was found to be close to its experimental value at the
initial stage of acceleration.

DOI: 10.1134/S0001433806050112

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