WAVE REFLECTION FROM UNDULATING SEABED TOPOGRAPHY

Abstract

The results of experiments are described which show that surface waves may experience a resonant interaction with undulations on the seabed. This interaction manifests itself in a strong reflection of incident wave energy when the wavelength of the bottom undulation is about half that of the surface wave. It is shown that such a mechanism might enable a region of undulating seabed topography (eg sand bars or sandwaves) to extend in an up-wave direction, into a region of otherwise plane bed.