The Office of Naval Research (ONR) awarded Dr. Kianoosh Yousefi $742,345 for his research project on Sea Spray-induced Fluxes at High Wind Conditions: Synergistic Experiments and Data-driven Modeling, under the Young Investigator Program (YIP), which focuses on supporting researchers working to improve the prediction of severe coastal weather. This project centers on understanding how sea spray or tiny droplets are produced by breaking waves during tough winds affect the transfer of heat, momentum, and mass between the ocean and the sky.

While current weather models struggle to explain these processes, this project intends to close that gap through laboratory experiments and advanced simulations. The research will produce the first simultaneous measurements of sea spray flow and its impact on environmental exchanges during high-wind conditions.

The main objective for this study is to create physics-informed models that improve the prediction of extreme weather occurrences. These models will assist national efforts to enhance storm prediction tools, mainly in coastal regions home to over 100 million Americans. Long-term outcomes include enhanced weather resilience, new modeling approaches, and broader advancements in the field of mechanical engineering as well as climate and ocean science.