Attenuation of progressive surface gravity waves by floating spheres
Abstract Laboratory experiments were performed to investigate the attenuation of progressive deep-water waves by a mono-layer of loose- and close-packed floating spheres. We measured the decay distance of waves having different incident wave frequency and steepness. The attenuation of waves was stro...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86142-4 |
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| author | Ross Calvert Jessamy Mol Bruce R. Sutherland Ton S. van den Bremer |
| author_facet | Ross Calvert Jessamy Mol Bruce R. Sutherland Ton S. van den Bremer |
| author_sort | Ross Calvert |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Laboratory experiments were performed to investigate the attenuation of progressive deep-water waves by a mono-layer of loose- and close-packed floating spheres. We measured the decay distance of waves having different incident wave frequency and steepness. The attenuation of waves was strong if the surface concentration of particles was close-packed, with the decay distance being shorter for incident waves with higher frequency and steepness. The amplitude of the highest-frequency (2.0 Hz) and largest amplitude incident waves (with steepness 0.25) decayed by half over a distance of approximately 3 wavelengths. Theoretical models used previously in the study of surface wave damping by sea ice do not capture correctly the physics of wave attenuation by floating spheres. We developed a new theory that estimates the influence upon wave attenuation of turbulent dissipation resulting from oscillatory flow under a close-packing of spheres. This theory predicts that the wave amplitude decays as a power law, and gives a correct order-of-magnitude estimate of the observed decay distance. We explore the potential implications of these findings for the attenuation of progressive waves by (pancake) sea ice and for the indirect detection of marine plastic pollution from space. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9fb3561bdfe24f9f8dab1d01ea54ae0c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-9fb3561bdfe24f9f8dab1d01ea54ae0c2025-01-19T12:22:22ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-86142-4Attenuation of progressive surface gravity waves by floating spheresRoss Calvert0Jessamy Mol1Bruce R. Sutherland2Ton S. van den Bremer3Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of TechnologyFaculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of TechnologyDepartment of Physics, University of AlbertaFaculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of TechnologyAbstract Laboratory experiments were performed to investigate the attenuation of progressive deep-water waves by a mono-layer of loose- and close-packed floating spheres. We measured the decay distance of waves having different incident wave frequency and steepness. The attenuation of waves was strong if the surface concentration of particles was close-packed, with the decay distance being shorter for incident waves with higher frequency and steepness. The amplitude of the highest-frequency (2.0 Hz) and largest amplitude incident waves (with steepness 0.25) decayed by half over a distance of approximately 3 wavelengths. Theoretical models used previously in the study of surface wave damping by sea ice do not capture correctly the physics of wave attenuation by floating spheres. We developed a new theory that estimates the influence upon wave attenuation of turbulent dissipation resulting from oscillatory flow under a close-packing of spheres. This theory predicts that the wave amplitude decays as a power law, and gives a correct order-of-magnitude estimate of the observed decay distance. We explore the potential implications of these findings for the attenuation of progressive waves by (pancake) sea ice and for the indirect detection of marine plastic pollution from space.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86142-4 |
| spellingShingle | Ross Calvert Jessamy Mol Bruce R. Sutherland Ton S. van den Bremer Attenuation of progressive surface gravity waves by floating spheres Scientific Reports |
| title | Attenuation of progressive surface gravity waves by floating spheres |
| title_full | Attenuation of progressive surface gravity waves by floating spheres |
| title_fullStr | Attenuation of progressive surface gravity waves by floating spheres |
| title_full_unstemmed | Attenuation of progressive surface gravity waves by floating spheres |
| title_short | Attenuation of progressive surface gravity waves by floating spheres |
| title_sort | attenuation of progressive surface gravity waves by floating spheres |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86142-4 |
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