Shallow water wave modelling with nonlinear dissipation

Abstract

In this paper a new shallow water wave model is described which uses nonlinear dissipation derived from turbulent diffusion as damping mechanism. The source functions of the model are presented in detail. Analytical results of the dynamical equation for simple cases illustrate basic features of the model. Academic test runs in deep and shallow water are performed. The designed cases are identical to the ones used in previous wave model intercomparison studies and thus allow comparison with other wave models. Results of a hindcast of a North Sea storm event illustrate the model behaviour in nonuniform real shallow water systems. In this case we can compare with field data and with the community wave model WAM cy. 4, which has been run parallel to our model. Our study shows that the concept of wave modelling with nonlinear dissipation is consistent with common knowledge of wave evolution in oceanic and shelf sea applications.