TMR4230 OCEANOGRAPHY

Exercise 3

Problem 1
In this exercise we will discuss a combined wave-current situation in a given con-
stant water depth. We will look closer at the situation that is depicted in Fig. 5.6
in the kompendium, where it is illustrated what happens when waves are crossing
a jet current U~ = V (x)~j. Further, it is assumed stationarity, ∂ = 0, no depen-
∂t
∂
dency of y, ∂y = 0, and that the waves in the area with no current have a direction
α0 related to the x-axis.

V (x)

α0

Use the formulas in the kompendium to discuss what will happen with the waves
when they are crossing the jet current for

1. α0 > 0
2. α0 = 0
3. α0 < 0 (alternatively study α0 > 0 and put V (x) < 0)

The discussion will be carried out for waves in shallow water and waves in deep
water. The following quantities are going to be discussed compared to the corre-
sponding quantities in the area without current:

• the direction α
• the wave length λ
• the wave amplitude ζA