Wave-current interactions are important
in many places, including two quite distinct ones discussed
here: (1) at the surface all over the ocean, where the
wind, waves, and oceanic mixed layer exchange energy,
momentum, and mass (moisture, particles, gases, etc.);
and (2) near shore, where the incident surf is the main
driving force for the alongshore flow. One of our goals
in the ocean physics group at MPL is to understand these
wave-current interactions. This "understanding"
can be measured in terms of our ability to predict and
parameterize the results.
