POST DOC: Spatial and/or temporal growth of water waves (TECHNION, ISRAEL)

Prof. Michael Stiassnie is seeking a suitable qualified researcher to undertake Post-Doctoral study to develop a theoretical model for the growth of water-waves in a wind-wave flume, under his supervision.

The importance of adequate description of interaction of wind with ocean waves cannot be overestimated, both on the global level of earth climate, and on a more local level of the necessity to predict the sea state for practical operation of off-shore and near-shore facilities. The goal of this study is to gain a better understanding of the dominant phenomena that determine the growth of waves under the effect of wind in a laboratory flume. This will enable us to offer better modeling of wind-wave growth rate. To attain this goal, it is crucial to realize that as water waves are affected by wind, the wind velocity profile in the vicinity of air-water interface is strongly affected by the waves. Detailed measurements of the air and water flow field in a laboratory wind-wave
flume and of the spatial and/or temporal evolution of the wave field will be carried out by a partner team, lead by Prof. Lev Shemer at the Tel-Aviv University. The experimental results will be compared with new computations based on the solution of the Orr-Sommerfeld equation for the experimentally determined air and water velocity profiles. Such a comparison will lead to critical assessment of the underlying model assumptions and to introduction of appropriate modifications. It is expected that an iterative experimental-theoretical process will lead to a better understanding of the physics of air-water flow interaction, in particular of the wind-wave growth mechanism, and as a result to a more accurate theoretical description of this process.

For more information, please visit the announcement link.