Surface Waves and Air-Sea Fluxes in Chesapeake Bay
There are many routes for contaminants to enter Chesapeake Bay. Atmospheric deposition has recently been recognized as one that can bring significant quantities of pollutants and nutrients into the ecosystem, more than 25 percent of the total nitrogen according to some estimates. Accurate calculations of such loading, however, have been severely limited, in part because the effect of surface waves on deposition processes is poorly understood. Lawrence Sanford has studied wind-wave relationships in the Bay and has developed computerized mathematical models designed to predict wave responses to different meteorological conditions. In this study, he will extend this work in order to model atmospheric deposition. Conducted in collaboration with researchers from the NOAA Air Resource Laboratory, this project specifically seeks to understand how factors such as wave height, surface roughness and the age of waves impact air-sea fluxes. For example, young waves, limited in duration and fetch, appear to be more active in terms of surface interactions (fluxes) between air and water. Computer simulations will be tested and validated against field measurements of wind, wave and air-sea fluxes. The results of this study will provide vital information on the scope, variability and impact of air deposition on contaminant loading to Chesapeake Bay.
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Lawrence P. Sanford
University of Maryland
Center for Environmental Science
Richard Valigura and Jeffrey McQueen
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