Abstract
One method of studying the complexities of the atmospheric surface layer over the ocean during high sea states is to consider the waves as moving drag objects for the wind. The study treats transport equations for the momentum, temperature, humidity, and water microdroplets as intercoupled fields. Microdroplets produced by breaking waves in the ocean are found to be a major source of atmospheric moisture and latent heat. Field data reduced by the present model give highly consistent results. The vertical energy flux from the ocean during high sea states was found to he several times larger than the energy flux expressed by existing formulations, in which the effect of water droplets is not taken into consideration.
