Hazardous waves from winter trade winds?
Submitted by Mark R Jury on
PDF version| Title | Hazardous waves from winter trade winds? |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 2019 |
| Authors | Jury, MR |
| Journal | REGIONAL STUDIES IN MARINE SCIENCE |
| Volume | 28 |
| Pagination | UNSP 100590 |
| Date Published | APR |
| Type of Article | Article |
| ISSN | 2352-4855 |
| Keywords | Caribbean Antilles, Hazardous waves |
| Abstract | One of the weather-related shipping hazards in the Caribbean Islands is an intense anticyclone during winter. Surges of trade winds cause steeply sloped short-period (<7 s, >2 m) waves to penetrate the shipping lanes near Puerto Rico. In addition to the large-scale air pressure gradient (5 hPa/300 km), the Antilles Islands funnel the winds (>10 m/s) and accentuate the surface heat fluxes (>200 W/m(2)) and air-sea momentum transfer. Here, the weather scenario surrounding a case of damage to a supply ship 30-31 December 2015 is presented, when the wave height-to-length ratio exceeded 3%. This case is placed in context by statistical analysis of climate and weather features contributing to intensified trade winds. A negative Pacific-North America pattern during La Nina enhances an anticyclonic ridge north of Puerto Rico, contributing to steep waves. The research highlights the hazard to shipping of short-period waves produced by surges of trade winds. (c) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.rsma.2019.100590 |
