# gst: free-surface deformations induced by three-dimensional turbulence.

<< ️(AA) report the experimental characterization of free-surface deformations generated by three-dimensional homogeneous and isotropic turbulence. Using Fourier transform profilometry in a jet-forced turbulent tank, (They) perform spatiotemporal measurements of the surface elevation field over a wide range of turbulence intensities. >>

<< ️The standard deviation of surface deformations scales linearly with subsurface velocity fluctuations. The spectra of surface deformations highlight the coexistence of two mechanisms: transient coherent structures (e.g., upwelling) contributing to the low-frequency, large-scale spectral components, and a passive response to subsurface turbulent pressure fluctuations responsible for the power-law spectral scaling. The wavenumber and frequency spectra of surface deformations exhibit similar power-law exponents (−2.5), suggesting the advection of turbulent structures at the free surface. >> 

<< ️(They) develop a linear response model based on the transfer function from the free surface to turbulent pressure fluctuations, incorporating wave-turbulent damping. The model successfully predicts the main features of the turbulent surface: spatiotemporal spectrum shape, similar spectrum power-law exponents (−7/3), and dominance of passive response over wave generation. These findings provide new insights into free-surface turbulence in regimes where turbulent velocities remain below the surface-breaking threshold. >>

Michaël Berhanu, Eric Falcon. Free-surface deformations induced by three-dimensional turbulence. arXiv: 2605.13654v1 [physics.flu-dyn]. May 13, 2026.

https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.13654

Also: fluctuations, waves, turbulence, in https://www.inkgmr.net/kwrds.html 

Keywords: gst, free-surface turbulence, free-surface deformations, subsurface velocity fluctuations, wave-turbulent damping, surface-breaking threshold.