Abstract:Many upper ocean processes depend on the dynamics of surface waves. Existing simulation-based studies of upper ocean flows often use simplified models for wave effects, for example, the use of sea surface roughness in wind-wave interaction and the use of Stokes drift and vortex force in Langmuir circulation. With the recent advancement in numerical algorithms and the increase in computing power, it has become feasible to resolve the wave motions explicitly in some process studies, and it may be possible to have wave-resolved computation in some operational forecasts in the near future. In this talk, some of the research in my group using wave-resolved simulations will be presented. I will first introduce recent developments in our simulation capabilities in nonlinear wave field evolution, wind-wave coupling, and wave breaking. Then I will focus on the discussion of flow physics we have learned from mechanistic studies of wave-turbulence interaction. Finally, I will introduce our on-going study of Langmuir cells and Langmuir turbulence.