Analysis of the Variations of the Whitecap Fraction as Measured in a Coastal Zone

The whitecap coverage generated by breaking waves plays a major role in the transfer of heat, momentum, water vapour and particles at the air-sea interface. The sea surface covered by whitecaps strongly depends on both the wind and the wave-field characteristics. In particular, in coastal zones, the variations of the whitecap fraction, commonly noted W, differ from open ocean conditions, due to fetch effects, wave-current interactions, bottom influence and irregular coastlines affecting both the wind properties and the wave development. We present an analysis of the whitecap-fraction variations using experimental data acquired during FETCH (Flux, Etat de mer, et Télédétection en Condition de fetcH variable), an experimental campaign that took place in the Gulf of Lion off the French Mediterranean coast in 1998. The data include various conditions of wave development associated with fetch and unsteady effects. The whitecap fraction W was measured using an original image processing technique applied to sea surface photography. Specific relationships between the whitecap fraction and both atmospheric and oceanic parameters are investigated, which confirm the suitability of the friction velocity for modelling W. However, W has also been parameterised using wave-parameter dependent relationships, which is of interest for very short fetches.