Term: surface_downward_northward_stress_due_to_sea_surface_waves

Unit: Pa

Unit ref: PASX

AMIP:

GRIB:

The surface called "surface" means the lower boundary of the atmosphere. "Surface stress" means the shear stress (force per unit area) exerted by the wind at the surface. A downward stress is a downward flux of momentum. Over large bodies of water, wind stress can drive near-surface currents. "Downward" indicates a vector component which is positive when directed downward (negative upward). "Northward" indicates a vector component which is positive when directed northward (negative southward). "Downward northward" indicates the ZY component of a tensor. A downward northward stress is a downward flux of northward momentum, which accelerates the lower medium northward and the upper medium southward. The specification of a physical process by the phrase "due_to_" process means that the quantity named is a single term in a sum of terms which together compose the general quantity named by omitting the phrase. "Sea surface waves" means the stress associated with form drag over sea surface waves.