Abstract
Momentum flux measurements made from an instrumented ocean buoy indicate that the surface drag coefficient CD is strongly dependent on changes in mean wind direction. A change in mean wind direction is accompanied by a change in wave propagation direction and associated variations in wave steepness and stage of wave development. From simultaneous wind-stress and wave measurements a critical value for the relative motion of air and surface waves is suggested beyond which the dominant waves reach the fully developed stage and the drag decreases.
