Wind input, nonlinear interactions and wave breaking at the spectrum tail of wind-generated waves, transition from f-4 to f-5 behaviour

Behaviour of the equilibrium interval of the wave frequency spectrum is investigated. It is argued that spectra of Phillips, Toba and Zakharov-Filonenko are consistent with each other, and transition between f-4 and f-5 subintervals is parameterised by means of field data including those obtained at short fetches from Katsiveli research tower. Role of the wave breaking, wind input and nonlinear interactions in formation of the spectrum tail is discussed.