A weakly dispersive edge wave model

We derive a general linear, weakly dispersive, Boussinesq-type equation tha t can be used to study edge waves on beaches with slow cross-shore variatio n of the depth and the alongshore current. The equation is more accurate th an the non-dispersive shallow water equations and simpler than the fully di spersive elliptic mild slope equation (especially for a non-zero alongshore current). The improved performance of the new Boussinesq-type model is dem onstrated using analytic solutions for edge waves on a plane beach with zer o alongshore current. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.