Mathematical model of wave transformation over radial sand ridge field on continental shelf of South Yellow Sea

• Main Authors: Yao-zhong YANG, Wei-bing FENG
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2010-03-01
• Series: Water Science and Engineering
• Subjects: wave transformation; mathematical model; radial sand ridge field; South Yellow Sea
• Online Access: http://www.waterjournal.cn:8080/water/EN/abstract/abstract108.shtml

According to a deformed mild-slope equation derived by Guang-wen Hong and an enhanced numerical method, a wave refraction-diffraction nonlinear mathematical model that takes tidal level change and the high-order bathymetry factor into account has been developed. The deformed mild-slope equation is used to eliminate the restriction of wave length on calculation steps. Using the hard disk to record data during the calculation process, the enhanced numerical method can save computer memory space to a certain extent, so that a large-scale sea area can be calculated with high-resolution grids. This model was applied to wave field integral calculation over a radial sand ridge field in the South Yellow Sea. The results demonstrate some features of the wave field: (1) the wave-height contour lines are arc-shaped near the shore; (2) waves break many times when they propagate toward the shore; (3) wave field characteristics on the northern and southern sides of Huangshayang are different; and (4) the characteristics of wave distribution match the terrain features. The application of this model in the region of the radial sand ridge field suggests that it is a feasible way to analyze wave refraction-diffraction effects under natural sea conditions.