University of Nottingham

Coastal Engineering

Department of Civil Engineering

H24HCR (2013-2014)

Wave Refraction: Snells Law

If bathymetric contours are aligned with the shore it can be shown that the alongshore component, m, of
the wavenumber vector ~k(= (k cos , k sin )) is constant regardless of how far offshore it is measured. Thus,
m0 = k0 sin 0 = k sin = m.

Wave Shoaling and Refraction

Snells Law
Ec g mocos = E o cg omocos o
Shoreline

z=1m
k
z=2m

m
o cos

ksin = m = kosino =m o

ko
co
mo

z=5m

s o

kosino=m o

Figure 5: An illustration of Snells Law for a straight shoreline and parallel depth contours.

HANDOUTS

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[October 11, 2013]