A recent Maxey–Riley theory for Sargassum raft motion, which models a raft as a network of elastically interacting finite size, buoyant particles, predicts the carrying flow velocity to be given by the weighted sum of the water and air velocities . The theory provides a closed formula for parameter α, referred to as windage, depending on the water-to-particle-density ratio or buoyancy (δ). From a series of laboratory experiments in an air–water stream flume facility under controlled conditions, we estimate α ranging from 0.02% to 0.96%. On average, our windage estimates can be up to nine times smaller than that considered in conventional Sargassum raft transport modeling, wherein it is customary to add a fraction of to v chosen in an ad hoc piecemeal manner. Using the formula provided by the Maxey–Riley theory, we estimate δ ranging from 1.00 to 1.49. This is consistent with direct δ measurements, ranging from 0.9 to 1.25, which provide support for our α estimation.
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November 2023
Letter|
November 10 2023
Physics-informed laboratory estimation of Sargassum windage
M. J. Olascoaga
;
M. J. Olascoaga
(Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing)
1
Department of Ocean Sciences, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami
, Miami, Florida 33136, USA
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F. J. Beron-Vera
;
F. J. Beron-Vera
(Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing)
2
Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, University of Miami
, Miami, Florida 33136, USA
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R. T. Beyea
;
R. T. Beyea
(Data curation, Writing – review & editing)
3
LGL Ecological Research Associates, Inc.
, Bryan, Texas 77802, USA
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G. Bonner
;
G. Bonner
(Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Writing – review & editing)
2
Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, University of Miami
, Miami, Florida 33136, USA
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M. Castellucci;
M. Castellucci
(Data curation, Visualization)
4
University of Miami
, Coral Gables, Florida 33146, USA
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G. J. Goni
;
G. J. Goni
(Resources, Writing – review & editing)
5
Atlantic Ocean Atmosphere Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
, Miami, Florida 33149, USA
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C. Guigand
;
C. Guigand
(Resources)
6
Department of Ocean Sciences, Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, University of Miami
, Miami, Florida 33136, USA
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N. F. Putman
N. F. Putman
(Data curation, Writing – review & editing)
3
LGL Ecological Research Associates, Inc.
, Bryan, Texas 77802, USA
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M. J. Olascoaga
1
F. J. Beron-Vera
2
R. T. Beyea
3
G. Bonner
2
M. Castellucci
4
G. J. Goni
5
C. Guigand
6
N. F. Putman
3
1
Department of Ocean Sciences, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami
, Miami, Florida 33136, USA
2
Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, University of Miami
, Miami, Florida 33136, USA
3
LGL Ecological Research Associates, Inc.
, Bryan, Texas 77802, USA
4
University of Miami
, Coral Gables, Florida 33146, USA
5
Atlantic Ocean Atmosphere Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
, Miami, Florida 33149, USA
6
Department of Ocean Sciences, Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, University of Miami
, Miami, Florida 33136, USA
Physics of Fluids 35, 111702 (2023)
Article history
Received:
September 05 2023
Accepted:
October 22 2023
Citation
M. J. Olascoaga, F. J. Beron-Vera, R. T. Beyea, G. Bonner, M. Castellucci, G. J. Goni, C. Guigand, N. F. Putman; Physics-informed laboratory estimation of Sargassum windage. Physics of Fluids 1 November 2023; 35 (11): 111702. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0175179
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