Wind waves as an element of a hydrodynamic coupled ocean-atmosphere model

A new approach to the coupled simulation of the ocean, atmosphere, and sea waves based on a detailed simulation of ocean-surface processes is described. The role of surface waves and the chain of energy and momentum transformation are briefly described: energy and momentum are transferred by wind to waves, turbulence, and surface currents through the field of surface pressure and tangential stress. Both energy and momentum accumulated in waves are transferred (with a lag) also to currents and turbulence within the ocean surface layer. The possibility of coupling atmosphere, ocean, and sea-wave models is considered.