Momentum exchanges in coupled ocean-wave modeling system

COAMPS
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is a fully coupled, data-assimilative, ocean-atmosphere-wave modeling system. The system consists of the meteorological model COAMPS, the Navy Coastal Ocean Model (NCOM), and two interchangeable wave models SWAN and WAVEWATCH III. Coupling of the models is accomplished via the Earth System Modeling Framework (ESMF) where surface fluxes of momentum, heat, and moisture, sea level pressure, sea surface heights, currents, Stokes drift currents, and wave forces are exchanged across the air-sea-wave interface. Transfer of energy from waves to the ocean currents is accounted for via the radiation stress gradients or through the dissipation source terms of the wave model. In this paper, the coupling methods and the effects of the momentum flux transfer between the wave model and the ocean model in a two-way coupled mode are presented. We focus on the dynamics of the coupled wave-ocean system for the US East Coast. The results show the dissipation method improves the vertical profiles of temperature and salinity, especially near the surface of the ocean.