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The improved model of estimating global whitecap coverage based on satellite data

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Abstract

The pro and con of whitecap parameterizations and a statistical wave breaking model are discussed. An improved model is derived by combining satellite-based parameterization and the wave breaking model. The appropriate constants for the general wave state are obtained by considering the breaking condition of the wave slope and fitting with the satellite-based parameterization. The result is close to the constants based on the whitecap data from Monahan. Comparing with satellite-based data and the original model’s results, the improved model's results are consistent with satellite-based data and previous studies. The global seasonal distributions of the whitecap coverage averaged from 1998 to 2008 are presented. Spatial and seasonal features of the whitecap coverage are analyzed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. First Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Qingdao, 266061, China

    Danqin Ren, Feng Hua, Yongzeng Yang & Baonan Sun

Authors
  1. Danqin Ren
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  2. Feng Hua
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  3. Yongzeng Yang
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  4. Baonan Sun
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yongzeng Yang.

Additional information

Foundation item: The National Key Basic Research Program (973 Program) of China under contract No.2010CB950404; the National High Technology Research and Development Program (863 Program) of China under contract No.2013AA09A506; the Basic Scientific Fund for National Public Research Institutes of China under contract No.GY0214G01; the Ocean Renewable Energy Special Fund Project of the State Oceanic Administration of China under contract No.GHME2011ZC07.

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Ren, D., Hua, F., Yang, Y. et al. The improved model of estimating global whitecap coverage based on satellite data. Acta Oceanol. Sin. 35, 66–72 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-016-0848-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-016-0848-3

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