  A deep-water approximation to the Stokes drift velocity profile is explored
as an alternative to the monochromatic profile. The alternative profile
investigated relies on the same two quantities required for the monochromatic
profile, viz the Stokes transport and the surface Stokes drift velocity.
Comparisons with parametric spectra and profiles under wave spectra from the
ERA-Interim reanalysis and buoy observations reveal much better agreement than
the monochromatic profile even for complex sea states. That the profile gives a
closer match and a more correct shear has implications for ocean circulation
models since the Coriolis-Stokes force depends on the magnitude and direction
of the Stokes drift profile and Langmuir turbulence parameterizations depend
sensitively on the shear of the profile. The alternative profile comes at no
added numerical cost compared to the monochromatic profile.
