MEASUREMENT OF SURFACE VELOCITIES AND SHEARS AT A WAVY AIR-WATER-INTERFACE USING PARTICLE IMAGE VELOCIMETRY

Measurements have been accomplished within the aqueous surface viscous sublayer of wind-forced microscale breaking waves using particle imag e velocimetry. These measurements have been used to derive surface vel ocities and tangential stresses. Assessment is made of the performance of the experimental equipment and techniques developed to accomplish these measurements. Comparison is made with previous studies of viscou s sublayer behaviour at the air-water interface and at smooth solid su rfaces.