Difference between revisions of "Wave breaking"

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{{ Definition| title = Wave breaking
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| definition = the overturning of the wave crest over the wave front.}}
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When waves approach shallow water, wave propagation becomes non-linear. This contrasts with linear wave propagation, where wave propagation does not depend on wave height, as is almost the case with waves propagating in deep water. In shallow water, wave propagation is influenced by the ratio wave height to water depth; the wave crest and the wave trough propagate at different speeds. The wave is therefore transformed, losing its sinusoidal shape. The wave front becomes steeper as the wave crest propagates faster than the trough, ultimately leading to wave breaking. In some cases the wave crest tilts gently over the wave front (spilling breaker) and in other cases the wave crest crashes spectacularly into the wave trough (plunging breaker). Several Coastal Wiki articles listed below discuss the complex phenomenon of wave transformation and wave breaking in shallow water.   
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:[[Breaker index]]
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:[[Wave transformation]]
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:[[Wave collision on a vertical wall]]
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:[[Shallow-water wave theory]]
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:[[Shoreface profile]]
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:[[Wave set-up]]
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:[[Wave run-up]]
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:[[Swash]]
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:[[Swash zone dynamics]]
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{{author
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|AuthorID=120
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|AuthorFullName=Job Dronkers
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|AuthorName=Dronkers J}}
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[[Category:Physical coastal and marine processes]]

Latest revision as of 10:34, 23 February 2024

Definition of Wave breaking:
the overturning of the wave crest over the wave front.
This is the common definition for Wave breaking, other definitions can be discussed in the article


When waves approach shallow water, wave propagation becomes non-linear. This contrasts with linear wave propagation, where wave propagation does not depend on wave height, as is almost the case with waves propagating in deep water. In shallow water, wave propagation is influenced by the ratio wave height to water depth; the wave crest and the wave trough propagate at different speeds. The wave is therefore transformed, losing its sinusoidal shape. The wave front becomes steeper as the wave crest propagates faster than the trough, ultimately leading to wave breaking. In some cases the wave crest tilts gently over the wave front (spilling breaker) and in other cases the wave crest crashes spectacularly into the wave trough (plunging breaker). Several Coastal Wiki articles listed below discuss the complex phenomenon of wave transformation and wave breaking in shallow water.


Breaker index
Wave transformation
Wave collision on a vertical wall
Shallow-water wave theory
Shoreface profile
Wave set-up
Wave run-up
Swash
Swash zone dynamics


The main author of this article is Job Dronkers
Please note that others may also have edited the contents of this article.

Citation: Job Dronkers (2024): Wave breaking. Available from http://www.coastalwiki.org/wiki/Wave_breaking [accessed on 25-11-2024]