The dispersion of surface contaminants by Stokes drift in random waves

Abstract

Contaminants that are floating on the surface of the ocean are subjected to the action of random waves. In the literature, it has been asserted by researchers that the random wave action will lead to a dispersion mechanism through the induced Stokes drift, and that this dispersion mechanism may have the same order of significance comparable with the others means due to tidal currents and wind. It is investigated whether or not surface floating substances will disperse in the random wave environment due to the induced Stokes drift. An analytical derivation is first performed to obtain the drift velocity under the random waves. From the analysis, it is shown that the drift velocity is a time-independent value that does not possess any fluctuation given a specific wave energy spectrum. Thus, the random wave drift by itself should not have a dispersive effect on the surface floating substances. Experiments were then conducted with small floating objects subjected to P-M spectral waves in a laboratory wave flume, and the experimental results reinforced the conclusion drawn.