Surface gravity wave-mean flow interaction with comparable spatial scales. Part II: two-way coupling and wave-wave interactions

Abstract

We consider narrow-band deep-water surface gravity waves propagating above a background flow whose spatial scale is comparable to the wavelength. We focus on the regime where the background-flow speed is comparable to the Stokes drift of the waves to derive a two-way coupled model between the fast waves and the slow background flow. Nonlinear wave interactions arise at the same asymptotic order as the two-way coupling and must therefore be included in the derivation. The resulting model consists of a nonlinear version of the reduced wave equation obtained in part I, coupled to a Craik-Leibovich equation governing the evolution of the background flow. The model describes the evolution of the wave field and background flow over the slow turnover frequency of the background flow, thus saving the computational burden of temporally resolving the fast wave frequency. The inviscid model exactly conserves wave action, mechanical energy and horizontal momentum, while the viscous model exactly conserves horizontal momentum. The coupling terms are cast in compact form for ease of physical interpretation and numerical implementation.