Hydrodynamic and radar modeling of surface features observed in Gulf Stream boundary regions

The perturbed ocean wave field and the radar return associated with Gulf Stream boundary current convergence fronts (Rips) are modeled. The surface wave field is simulated using the full-wave action density equation including the effects of wind input, wave/current interaction, and dissipation. Radar return from the ocean surface is computed using a tilted-Bragg scattering model and wave breaking statistics obtained using modelled wave dissipation results. The effect of wave breaking is examined for a range of commonly observed Rip conditions and compared with observations made during the NRL Gulf Stream 90 (Valenzuela, 1991), and Hi-Res Ocean experiments (Mied, 1992)