Shoaling waves: A discussion

Surface gravity waves are commonly observed to slow down and to stop at a beach without any noticeable reflection taking place. We assume that as a consequence the waves are continuously giving up their linear and angular momenta, which they carry with them, along with energy, as they propagate into gradually decreasing mean depths of water. It takes a force to cause a time rate of decrease in the linear momentum and a torque to produce a time rate of decrease in the angular momentum. Both a force and a torque operate on the shoaling waves, due to the presence of the sloping bottom, to cause the diminution of their linear and angular momenta. By Newton’s third law, action equals reaction, an equal but opposite force and torque are exerted on the bottom. No other mechanisms for transferring linear and angular momenta are included in the model. Since the force on the waves acts over a horizontal distance during shoaling, work is done on the waves and energy flux is not conserved. Bottom friction, wave interaction with a mean flow, scattering from small-scale bottom irregularities and set-up are neglected. Mass flux is conserved, which leads to a shoreward monotonic decrease in amplitude consistent with available swell data. The formula for the time-independent force on the bottom agrees qualitatively with observations in seven different ways: four for swell attenuation and three for sediment transport on beaches. Ardhuin (2006) argues against a mean force on the bottom that is not hydrostatic, mainly by using conservation of energy flux. He also applies the action balance equation to shoaling waves. Action is a difficult concept to grasp for motion in a continuum; it cannot be easily visualized, and it is not really necessary for solving the shoaling wave problem. We prefer angular momentum because it is clearly related to the observed orbital motion of the fluid particles in progressive surface waves. The physical significance of wave action for surface waves has been described recently by showing that in deep water action is equivalent to the magnitude of the wave’s orbital angular momentum (Kenyon and Sheres, 1996). Finally, Ardhuin requires that there be a significant exchange of linear momentum between shoaling waves and an unspecified mean flow, although the magnitude and direction of the exchange are not predicted. No mention is made of what happens to the orbital angular momentum during shoaling. Mass flux conservation is not stated.     

Wave characteristic and morphologic effects on the onshore hydrodynamic response of tsunamis

While the destruction caused by a tsunami can vary significantly owing to near- and onshore controls, we have only a limited quantitative understanding of how different local parameters influence the onshore response of tsunamis. Here, a numerical model based on the non-linear shallow water equations is first shown to agree well with analytical expressions developed for periodic long waves inundating over planar slopes. More than 13,000 simulations are then conducted to examine the effects variations in the wave characteristics, bed slopes, and bottom roughness have on maximum tsunami run-up and water velocity at the still water shoreline. While deviations from periodic waves and planar slopes affect the onshore dynamics, the details of these effects depend on a combination of factors. In general, the effects differ for breaking and non-breaking waves, and are related to the relative shift of the waves along the breaking–non-breaking wave continuum. Variations that shift waves toward increased breaking, such as steeper wave fronts, tend to increase the onshore impact of non-breaking waves, but decrease the impact of already breaking waves. The onshore impact of a tsunami composed of multiple waves can be different from that of a single wave tsunami, with the largest difference occurring on long, shallow onshore topographies. These results demonstrate that the onshore response of a tsunami is complex, and that using analytical expressions derived from simplified conditions may not always be appropriate.     

Water wave scattering by bottom undulations in an ice-covered two-layer fluid

The scattering of plane surface waves by bottom undulations in an ice-covered ocean modelled as a two-layer fluid consisting of a layer of fresh water of lesser density above a deep layer of salt water, is investigated here by using a simplified perturbation analysis. In such a two-layer fluid there exist waves of two different modes, one with higher mode propagates along the interface and the other with lower mode propagates along the ice-cover. An incident wave of a particular mode gets reflected and transmitted by the bottom undulations into waves of both the modes so that transfer of wave energy from one mode to another takes place. The first-order reflection and transmission coefficients of two different modes are obtained due to incident waves of again two different modes by employing Fourier transform technique in the mathematical analysis. For sinusoidal bottom topography these coefficients are depicted graphically against the wavenumber. These figures show how the transfer of energy from one mode to another takes place.     

Laboratory modeling of the propagation of periodic internal waves over bottom slopes

The experimental investigation of the run-up of periodic internal waves in a two-layer fluid on the coastal slope is performed in an open hydrochannel at the Physical Department of the Lomonosov Moscow State University. The waves are produced by a wave generator. We study the transformation of waves, the vertical structure of the field of velocities of mass transfer, and the behavior of the parameters of internal waves propagating over the sloping bottom. It is shown that the run-up and breaking of internal waves are accompanied by periodic emissions of portions of the heavier fluid from the bottom layer upward along the slope. The Stokes drift velocity changes its sign as a function of depth. Moreover, both the wave length (the horizontal distance between the neighboring crests) and the height of waves over the sloping bottom (the elevation of the crest over the slope along the vertical) decrease as the wave approaches the coast.     

Calculating bottom orbital velocity beneath waves

Methods are presented for calculating directly from a known wave height, period and water depth the orbital velocity produced at the sea bed by surface waves. Two curves are sufficient to allow the root-mean-square bottom orbital velocity to be calculated for wave-spectra having any one of the JONSWAP, Pierson-Moskowitz, Bretschneider, ISSC or ITTC forms. A third curve covers the monochromatic case. Other curves allow the ratio of the peak periods of bottom orbital velocity and surface elevation to be calculated for the above five spectral forms. Values are deduced for the height and period of the monochromatic wave which most closely matches the bottom orbital velocity obtained from a full spectral representation, optimised over water depths ranging from deep water to breaking.     

Amplitude variations of edge waves on a shelf slowly varying in the alongshore direction

Within the framework of the linear shallow-water theory, the dynamics of edge waves over a shelf characterized by a cylindrical bottom relief is investigated under the assumption that shelf parameters vary slowly in the alongshore direction. An asymptotic theory and an energy approach are used to calculate the amplitude of the edge wave. In the analytic form, the results are obtained for shelves of three different profiles with parameters varying along the shore: an infinite linear profile, a concave exponential profile, and a stepwise profile.     

Seismic features and origin of sediment waves in the Qiongdongnan Basin, northern South China Sea

Sediment waves have been documented around the world for several decades, and their origins are still debated because of their various characteristics in different settings. Based on numerous high-resolution seismic profiles and two boreholes, sediment waves are identified in deepwater areas of the eastern Qiongdongnan Basin, and their distribution and seismic features are illustrated. Combined with the bathymetry, the potential origins of these sediment waves are discussed. Drilling in the central canyon revealed that the channel infill comprises some along-slope fine-grained turbidites, which are good reservoir for gas plays. The sediment waves are distributed on the banks of the central canyon and their seismic features indicate that most of them are caused by turbidity current overflows along the canyon. Although previous researches on these sediment waves suggested that they were of westward-flowing contourite origin, detailed topographic map derived from the seafloor reflector on seismic data shows that there is a N–S trending ridge at the east part of sediment wave zones, which could block and divert the bottom current. According to the geometry of sediment waves, the flow thicknesses across the entire wave field are calculated as 280–560 m, and the current velocity falls in the range of 30–130 cm/s, which would favor a fine-grained composition and could be a good reservoir because of the better sorting of turbidites than contourites or other gravity flow deposits.     

Second-Oorder Analytic Solutions of Nonlinear Interactions of Edge Waves on A Plane Sloping Bottom

Based on the full water-wave equation, a second-order analytic solution for nonlinear interaction of short edge waves on a constant plane sloping bottom is presented in this paper. For special case of slope angle b=p/2, this solution can be reduced to the same order solution of deep water gravity surface waves traveling along parallel coastline. Interactions between two edge waves including progressive, standing and partially reflected standing waves were also discussed. The unified analytic expressions with transfer functions for kinematic-dynamic elements of edge waves were also discussed. The random model of the unified wave motion processes for linear and nonlinear irregular edge waves is formulated, and the corresponding theoretical autocorrelation and spectral density functions of the first and second orders are derived. The boundary conditions for the determining determination of the parameters of short edge wave are suggested, that may be seen as one special simple edge wave excitation mechanism and an extension to the sea wave refraction theory. Finally some computation results are demonstrated.     

Generation of 3D regular and irregular waves using Navier–Stokes equations model with an internal wave maker

Due to their capability of correctly representing wave characteristics, the number of numerical models based on Navier–Stokes equation (NSE) models has recently increased remarkably. One of the key challenges of this type of wave model, however, is to minimize the wave re-reflection from the incident boundary. Many numerical techniques have been developed to deal with this problem, and previous studies have reported on internal wave makers that employ NSE. Research on generation and transformation of irregular waves using a three-dimensional NSE model, however, has begun very recently, and few studies have yet been reported. In this study, a three-dimensional numerical model was applied to generate irregular waves, and transformation of irregular waves was simulated in a numerical wave tank. The model was first verified by applying it to simple numerical tests in two dimensions. The model was then used to generate directional monochromatic and irregular waves in three dimensions. The numerical results were compared with the analytical solutions, and good agreement was observed. Finally, the model was applied to simulate the transformation of irregular waves over an uneven bottom geometry in a wave tank.     

Wave-induced Benthic Velocity Variations in Shallow Waters

Waves propagating from deep water into shallow coastal areas produce oscillatory currents near the sea bottom. The magnitude of these currents depend upon the period and amplitude of the incoming waves, and the dissipation mechanism such as wave breaking and bottom friction. Field experiments in a gently shoaling bay, i.e. Cleveland Bay, Northern Australia, showed that there is a broad band of water at around 6 m depth, where the benthic surge velocities are maximum. Both further inshore and offshore, the bottom velocities were less than at 6 m depth, contrary to the normal expectation that the velocities should increase as the water becomes shallower. A new and computationally efficient wave model was developed and was able to reproduce experimental results for waves above 50 cm wave height, but not for small waves (wave height about 30 cm). One implication of this higher band of benthic surge velocities may be to produce high water turbidities in this region. Turbidity data from Cleveland Bay is consistent with this hypothesis.     

Experimental analysis of infragravity waves in two eroded microtidal beaches

This work aims to contribute to the characterization and understanding of infragravity waves on two beaches with erosion problems. For this reason, we have used an array of ADCP and a pressure sensor to measure wave parameters and pressure inside and outside of the surf zone during the dry and rainy period in the beaches of Galerazamba and Manzanillo del Mar (both dissipative and eroded beaches) located in the Colombian Caribbean coast. Based on these measurements, we have carried out a spectral analysis in order to identify the frequency components that characterize the wave and its energy; thus, we identified the characteristic frequencies of infragravity waves to finally filter the infragravity signal on each beach in different seasonal periods. Among the results of the Welch spectrum applied to surface elevation time series, we found that, the frequencies'' energy of the sea-swell band decreases due to bottom friction and wave breaking as the wave approaches the shore, while the frequencies'' energy of the infragravity band increases significantly. In addition, for the wavelet analysis, we could observe how the energy of the infragravity band, especially the lowest frequencies gain energy as the waves approaches the coast. Furthermore, based on the infragravity wave obtained from the extreme wave event registered during the field campaign we can conclude that the contribution of this signal is important in the erosion problems presented in the beaches of Galerazamba and Manzanillo del Mar. Finally, these results show the need to realize other studies that allow us to understand deeply, the role of infragravity waves on the morphological changes that occurs in these beaches.     

Static wave setup with emphasis on damping effects by vegetation and bottom friction

Wave setup can contribute significantly to elevated water levels during severe storms. In Florida we have found that wave setup can be 30% to 60% of the total 100-year storm surge. In areas with relatively narrow continental shelves, such as many locations along the Pacific Coast of the United States, wave setup can be an even larger proportionate contributor of anomalous water levels during major storms. Wave setup can be considered as comprising two components, with the first being the well-known static wave setup resulting from the transfer of breaking wave momentum to the water column. The second, oscillating component, is a result of nonlinear transfer of energy and momentum from the primary (linear) spectrum to waves with length and time scales on the order of the wave groups.Static wave setup is the focus of this paper with emphasis on effects due to internal or surface forces that act on the wave system and cause both dissipation of wave energy and transfer of momentum. In particular, the effects of wave damping by vegetation and bottom friction are considered. Linear wave theory is applied to illustrate these effects and, for shallow water waves, the setup is reduced by two-thirds the amount that would occur if the same amount of energy dissipation occurred in the absence of forces. Effects of nonlinear waves are then considered and it is found, for a shallow water wave of approximately one-half breaking height, that a wave setdown rather than setup occurs due to damping by vegetation and bottom friction.The problem of wave setup as waves propagate through vegetation was stimulated by studies to establish hazard zones associated with 100-year storm events along the shorelines of the United States. These storms can generate elevated water levels exceeding 4 to 6 m and can result in overland wave propagation. As these waves propagate through vegetation and damp, the question arose as to the contribution of this process to elevated mean water levels through additional wave setup.     

吕宋海峡内波吸引子的三维数值模拟

Internal waves propagate along wave beams that are inclined with respect to the horizontal plane. It is conjectured that the internal waves generated in the Luzon Strait may be confined between the double ridges in the strait and concentrate to a closed trajectory, the so-called internal wave attractor, due to the reflection of wave beams from the lateral boundaries, sea surface and bottom. This work carried out two experiments using a three dimensional non-hydrostatic general circulation model, MITgcm, to investigate the possibility that the ridges in the Luzon Strait allows for internal wave attractors. Baroclinic current in both of the experiments demonstrate the forming of ring-like patterns in some section around 20° and 21°N, indicating that the development of the internal wave attractors are allowed in the Luzon Strait. The different resolutions and initial conditions in the two experiments also reveal that the internal-wave-attractor phenomenon is robust in this region.     

Effect of higher-order bottom variation terms on the refraction of water waves in the extended mild-slope equations

This study investigates how the refraction of water waves is affected by the higher-order bottom effect terms proportional to the square of bottom slope and to the bottom curvature in the extended mild-slope equations. Numerical analyses are performed on two cases of waves propagating over a circular shoal and over a circular hollow. Numerical results are analyzed using the eikonal equation derived from the wave equations and the wave ray tracing technique. It is found that the higher-order bottom effect terms change the wavelength and, in turn, change the refraction of waves over a variable depth. In the case of waves over a circular shoal, the higher-order bottom effects increase the wavelength along the rim of shoal more than near the center of shoal, and intensify the degree of wave refraction. However, the discontinuity of higher-order bottom effects along the rim of shoal disperses the foci of wave rays. As a result, the amplification of wave energy behind the shoal is reduced. Conversely, in the case of waves over a circular hollow, the higher-order bottom effects decrease the wavelength near the center of the hollow in comparison with the case of neglecting higher-order bottom effects. Consequently, the degree of wave refraction is decreased, and the spreading of wave energy behind the hollow is reduced.     

Experimental investigation on the wave-induced pore pressure around shallowly embedded pipelines

A series of regular wave experiments have been done in a large-scale wave flume to investigate the wave-induced pore pressure around the submarine shallowly embedded pipelines.The model pipelines are buried in three kinds of soils,including gravel,sand and silt with different burial depth.The input waves change with height and period.The results show that the amplitudes of wave-induced pore pressure increase as the wave period increase,and decay from the surface to the bottom of seabed.Higher pore pressures are recorded at the pipeline top and the lower pore pressures at the bottom,especially in the sand seabed.The normalized pressure around pipeline decreases as the relative water depth,burial depth or scattering parameters increase.For the silt seabed,the wavelet transform has been successfully used to analyze the signals of wave-induced pore pressure,and the oscillatory and residual pore pressure can be extracted by wavelet analysis.Higher oscillatory pressures are recorded at the bottom and the lower pressures at the top of the pipeline.However,higher residual pressures are recorded at the top and the lower pressures at the bottom of the pipeline.     

Ephemeral sand waves in the hurricane surf zone

Airborne bathymetric LIDAR observations along the Florida panhandle after Hurricane Dennis (2005) show the first unequivocal observations of surf-zone sand wave trains.

These are found in depths of 5m along the trough of the hurricane bar, where hindcasts show strong longshore currents only during severe storms. The waves extend over tens of kilometers of coast after Dennis but are absent from the same area in four other datasets. Observed wavelength to water depth ratios are comparable to river dunes and tidal sand waves but height to depth ratios are smaller, with the largest wave heights around 0.1 times the water depth. The sand wave generation mechanism is hypothesized to be from wind-and-wave-induced longshore currents, which were hindcast to be large during Dennis, with destruction from water wave orbital velocities.     

Numerical simulation and preliminary analysis of typhoon waves during three typhoons in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea

In this study,typhoon waves generated during three typhoons(Damrey(1210),Fung-wong(1416),and Chan-hom(1509))in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea were simulated in a simulating waves nearshore(SWAN)model,and the wind forcing was constructed by combining reanalyzed wind data with a Holland typhoon wind model.Various parameters,such as the Holland fitting parameter(B)and the maximum wind radius?,were investigated in sensitivity experiments in the Holland model that affect the wind field construction.Six different formulations were considered and the parameters determined by comparing the simulated wind results with in-situ wind measurements.The key factors affecting wave growth and dissipation processes from deep to shallow waters were studied,including wind input,whitecapping,and bottom friction.Comparison with in-situ wave measurements suggested that the KOMEN scheme(wind input exponential growth and whitecapping energy dissipation)and the JONSWAP scheme(dissipation of bottom friction)resulted in good reproduction of the significant wave height of typhoon waves.A preliminary analysis of the wave characteristics in terms of wind-sea and swell wave revealed that swell waves dominated with the distance of R to the eye of the typhoon,while wind-sea prevailed in the outer region up to six to eight times the R values despite a clear misalignment between wind and waves.The results support the hypothesis that nonlinear wave-wave interactions may play a key role in the formation of wave characteristics.     

防浪建筑物影响下珊瑚礁海岸波浪传播变形试验

通过测试一系列不规则波工况研究了防浪建筑物存在下珊瑚礁海岸附近短波、低频长波和增水的变化规律,并对比了防浪建筑物的不同位置情况。分析结果表明：波浪在沿礁传播过程中,短波波高沿礁坪持续衰减,低频长波波高沿礁坪逐渐增大,波浪增水则沿礁坪基本保持不变;海岸附近短波随着防浪建筑物与礁缘距离的变大而减小,低频长波则在防浪建筑物处于礁坪后部时达到最大,防浪建筑物位置的变化对于礁坪波浪增水的影响可以忽略。通过理论分析证明了珊瑚礁地形上低频长波是由于群波破碎造成的破碎点移动而产生的;当特定波况作用于特定位置的防浪建筑物时,低频长波在礁坪上会发生一阶共振效应导致其能量在海岸附近达到最大值。     

Statistical Analyses of Wave Height Distribution for Multidirectional Irregular Waves over A Sloping Bottom

The main objective of this paper is to examine the influences of both the principal wave direction and the directional spreading parameter of the wave energy on the wave height evolution of multidirectional irregular waves over an impermeable sloping bottom and to propose an improved wave height distribution model based on an existing classical formula. The numerical model FUNWAVE 2.0, based on a fully nonlinear Boussinesq equation, is employed to simulate the propagation of multidirectional irregular waves over the sloping bottom. Comparisons of wave heights derived from wave trains with various principal wave directions and different directional spreading parameters are conducted. Results show that both the principal wave direction and the wave directional spread have significant influences on the wave height evolution on a varying coastal topography. The shoaling effect for the wave height is obviously weakened with the increase of the principal wave direction and with the decrease of the directional spreading parameter. With the simulated data, the classical Klopman wave height distribution model is improved by considering the influences of both factors. It is found that the improved model performs better in describing the wave height distribution for the multidirectional irregular waves in shallow water.     

Explicit wave-averaged primitive equations using a generalized Lagrangian mean

The generalized Langrangian mean theory provides exact equations for general wave–turbulence–mean flow interactions in three dimensions. For practical applications, these equations must be closed by specifying the wave forcing terms. Here an approximate closure is obtained under the hypotheses of small surface slope, weak horizontal gradients of the water depth and mean current, and weak curvature of the mean current profile. These assumptions yield analytical expressions for the mean momentum and pressure forcing terms that can be expressed in terms of the wave spectrum. A vertical change of coordinate is then applied to obtain glm2z-RANS equations with non-divergent mass transport in cartesian coordinates. To lowest order, agreement is found with Eulerian mean theories, and the present approximation provides an explicit extension of known wave-averaged equations to short-scale variations of the wave field, and vertically varying currents only limited to weak or localized profile curvatures. Further, the underlying exact equations provide a natural framework for extensions to finite wave amplitudes and any realistic situation. The accuracy of the approximations is discussed using comparisons with exact numerical solutions for linear waves over arbitrary bottom slopes, for which the equations are still exact when properly accounting for partial standing waves. For finite amplitude waves it is found that the approximate solutions are probably accurate for ocean mixed layer modelling and shoaling waves, provided that an adequate turbulent closure is designed. However, for surf zone applications the approximations are expected to give only qualitative results due to the large influence of wave nonlinearity on the vertical profiles of wave forcing terms.