Luc Deike (UCSD) - Air entrainment by breaking waves

Breaking waves at the water surface is a striking example of turbulent mixing across a fluid interface. The impact of the jet generates turbulence, entrains air into the water and ejects droplets into the air. In this talk, I will present laboratory experiments and direct numerical simulations of breaking waves that bring new insights into the associated two-phase turbulent flow. I specifically address the dissipation of energy and the entrainment of air bubbles for a single breaking wave. I will then discuss the up-scaling to the ocean and implications for air-sea exchanges of gases and marine aerosols, key to the climate system.