Wave Groupiness as a Source of Nearshore Long Waves

Data from a low energy swell-dominated surf zone are examined for indications that observed low frequency motions are simply group-forced bounded long waves. Time series of wave amplitude are compared to filtered long wave records through cross-spectral and cross-correlation analysis. These methods are found to have limited usefulness until long waves are separated into seaward and shoreward components. Then a clear picture of a rapidly shoaling bounded long wave emerges, with a minimum of nearly one fourth of the long wave amplitude being explainable by this type of motion close to shore. Through the zone in which waves were breaking, and incident wave amplitude variability decreased by 50%, the contribution from the bounded long wave continued to increase at a rate much greater than a simple shoaling effect. Also present are clear signs that this amplified bounded long wave is reflected from a position close to the shoreline, and is thus released from wave groups as a free, offshore-progressive wave.