ABSTRACT
Linear structures in sea surface foam, commonly referred to as “windrows,” have long interested oceanographers and mariners. The Þrst rigorous study of circulations associated with windrows was presented by Langmuir (1938) who noticed that seaweed would form into regular rows whenever the winds exceeded ~3 to 5 m s
. Because of Langmuir’s work, we now refer to these circulations as Langmuir circulation (LC). LC are important for establishing the ocean surface mixed layer and dispersing heat, salinity, nutrients, and pollution through the upper water column (see review by Barstow, 1983).
