WAVE REFRACTION ACROSS A CURRENT WITH STRONG HORIZONTAL SHEARING

Abstract

Experiments have been performed with regular deep-water waves propagating obliquely across a relatively narrow jet-type current. Measurements have been made of wave refraction using an 8-element wave array and 3d acoustic Doppler flowmeters. Results show that wave height and celerity follow the trends predicted by gradually-varied flow theory, but with wave height modulated by weak reflections as the waves pass across the jet. Direction of wave propagation I sfound to be sensitive to the presence of internal reflections from the shear layers.