An overlooked aspect of continental shelf wave generation by wind is that a non-wavelike flow field may accompany the waves. To explore this possibility, we calculate the response of an inclined plane shelf to suddenly applied alongshore wind, affecting a finite portion of the coast. The calculations are based on the classical theory of continental shelf waves, supposing low frequency motions and invoking the boundary layer approximation (alongshore scales much longer than cross-shore ones). The results reveal non-wavelike circulations, with or without bottom friction, on a shelf of finite or unlimited width, unaffected by changing offshore boundary conditions.
展开▼
