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A note on the divergence effect and the Lagrangian-mean surface elevation in periodic water waves

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 April 2006

M. E. Mcintyre
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge, Silver Street, Cambridge CB3 9EW, UK

Abstract

Longuet-Higgins’ exact expression for the increase in the Lagrangian-mean elevation of the free surface due to the presence of periodic, irrotational surface gravity waves is rederived from generalized Lagrangian-mean theory. The raising of the Lagrangian-mean surface as wave amplitude builds up illustrates the non-zero divergence of the Lagrangian-mean velocity field in an incompressible fluid.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1988 Cambridge University Press

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