Stokes transport in layers in the water column based on long-term wind statistics

Abstract

Summary: This paper addresses the Stokes transport velocity for deep water random waves in given layers in the water column based on wind statistics, which can be estimated by the simple analytical tool provided here. Results are exemplified by using the Phillips and Pierson-Moskowitz model wave spectra together with long-term wind statistics from one location in the northern North Sea and from four locations in the North Atlantic. The results are relevant for e.g. assessing the drift of marine litter in the ocean based on, for example, global wind statistics. Keywords: Marine litter, Random surface gravity waves, Stokes transport velocity, Wind statistics