Diffraction of continental shelf waves by irregular alongshore geometry.

Abstract

Diffraction of continental shelf waves by irregular alongshore geometry, such as ridges, canyons and bumps, is examined. The full barotropic, shelf-wave equation is treated, and the solutions include forward and back scattering, and a description of the near-field circulation around the topographic feature. Results suggest that topographic irregularities on the continental shelf are the energy sink of long waves. Through diffraction, the large-scale, predominantly alongshore motion transforms to the intense, small-scale, cross-shore motion in the vicinity of sharp depth convergence.