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 above sea waves. Assuming a local balance between production of turbulent kinetic energy and its dissipation, an explicit relation for the heat exchange coefficient CH is obtained. It is shown that CH follows a square-root dependence on the drag coefficient CD. However, the proportionality coefficient appears to depend on the sea state, expressed in terms of the coupling parameter. Dependence on the sea state suppresses the CD1/2 wind-speed dependence, and results in a marginal increase of CH with increase in the wind speed.