| Summary: | The average wind profile versus height for a nearly flat water surface roughened by capillaries is logarithmic down to a certain point, and must then approach the surface velocity smoothly at the time averaged surface. For lack of data, we hypothesize the form of the interfacial sublayer to be that of Liu, et al. (1979) for smooth flow with a modification in the dominant scale size to accommodate the transition from smooth to rough flow. The result implies that the surface shear increases with applied stress until roughness sets in. Then owing to increased turbulence at the interface, the shear may reach a maximum and decrease. If this were to hold true, there would be important implications for air-sea coupling in general, and wind wave generation mechanisms in particular. (Author).
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