THE EFFECTS OF BOTTOM CONFIGURATION ON THE DEFORMATION, BREAKING AND RUN-UP OF SOLITARY WAVES

Abstract

Experiments were conducted to determine the various effects on the shoaling, breaking and run-up of solitary waves resulting from the bottom configuration. An initial set of experiments investigated the effect of the initial bottom slope on the breaking and run-up of a wave on a second, higher slope. A second set of experiments considered the effect of a continental shelf configuration on the transmissibility of waves in the shoreward direction, and the decomposition of the waves due to the shallower water depth on the continental shelf. It was found that, in order to make predictions at or near the shoreline for waves generated in deep water, it is necessary to consider the total configuration of the bottom leading to the shoreline.