The time evolution of the surface gravity wave field will be studied by combining a comprehensive field program in the Bight of Abaco with a fully non-linear model. The investigation began with the development of a two-dimensional wave array to measure the evolution of the wave spectrum and the meteorological forcing by the wind. Secondly, a new approach was developed for treating the non-linear wave-wave interaction term to provide better resolution of the energy transport and a more efficient scheme for evaluating the effect of the interactions on wave evolution. The present effort consists of a pilot field program in the spring of 1989 to be followed by a full experiment one year later. On the modeling topic, an adjoint model necessary to optimize a systematic expansion of the unknown source terms will be constructed. %%% This project couples a field program to measure the response of the surface ocean wave field to meteorological forcing with an attempt to develop a model incorporating the physical processes. At present, a non-linear wave evolution model has been developed, but required either massive computational effort, or a truncation to an overly simplified representation. This effort examines an alternate representation to the non-linear terms, which, if successful, would permit an inversion of the data to better understand the physical processes at work producing the wave field. The subsequent effort would then lead to a predictive model of the surface wave field forced by meteorological variables available from satellite or other techniques.
