A note on wind speed and sea state dependence of the heat exchange coefficient

Both mean and wave-induced motions generate turbulence in the air flow abov e sea waves. Assuming a local balance between production of turbulent kinet ic energy and its dissipation, an explicit relation for the heat exchange c oefficient C-H is obtained. It is shown that C-H follows a square-root depe ndence on the drag coefficient C-D. However, the proportionality coefficien t appears to depend on the sea state, expressed in terms of the coupling pa rameter. Dependence on the sea state suppresses the C-D(1/2) wind-speed dep endence, and results in a marginal increase of C-H with increase in the win d speed.