The scattering of water waves by a varying bottom topography is consid
ered using two-dimensional linear water-wave theory. A new approach is
adopted in which the problem is first transformed into a uniform stri
p resulting in a variable free-surface boundary condition. This is the
n approximated by a finite number of sections on which the free-surfac
e boundary condition is assumed to be constant. A transition matrix th
eory is developed which is used to relate the wave amplitudes at +/-in
finity. The method is checked against examples for which the solution
is known, or which can be computed by alternative means. Results show
that the method provides a simple accurate technique for scattering pr
oblems of this type.