THE GODDARD COASTAL WAVE MODEL .2. KINEMATICS

A new coastal wave model is being developed to study air-sea interacti on processes in the coastal region. The kinematics of this model, whic h govern the wave propagation, are reported. This new model is based o n the action conservation equation rather than on the energy transport equation; it also employs the full nonlinear dispersion relationship in water of arbitrary depth. With these improvements, it includes nons tationary wave-current interaction processes and functions in coastal regions with variable finite water depths. Numerical results show that these changes cause significant differences between the new model and the WAM model when waves encounter any steady or unsteady current, an d when waves propagate over changing bottom topography in a shallow wa ter region. Such conditions are very common and should not be neglecte d in the coastal regions.