Energy Spectra of the Ocean Surface: An Eigenmode Approach

Abstract

A set of Hermitian equations is constructed using a mode description of the dynamic equations of the ocean surface. These equations are sufficiently flexible to include the coupling of the ocean surface to the wind, viscous damping and the effects of surface tension as well as the non-linear interactions between surface waves. The system of equations is exact and from them a system of approximate, first-order (in time), finite differential equations is derived and solved numerically. The solutions to these coupled equations provide one with a detailed view of the growth of the non-linear surface waves and energy spectrum with time.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 1973
Accession Number
AD0759541

Entities

People

  • Bruce J. West
  • J. Alex Thomson
  • Kenneth M. Watson

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Amplitude Modulation
  • Born Approximations
  • Contracts
  • Differential Equations
  • Doppler Effect
  • Equations
  • Frequency
  • Gravity Waves
  • Group Velocity
  • Mechanical Waves
  • Modulation
  • Phase Velocity
  • Spectra
  • Surface Tension
  • Surface Waves
  • Wave Packets
  • Waves

Fields of Study

  • Mathematics

Readers

  • Finite Element Method (FEM) for solving Partial Differential Equations (PDEs)
  • Oceanography.
  • Plasma Physics / Magnetohydrodynamics