Interaction of Random Waves and Currents

Abstract

The effects of steady, uniform currents on random waves, and the associated water‐particle kinematics, are investigated. The basic equations describing the interactions between waves and currents are reviewed, with special reference to the changes in the variance spectra of free‐surface displacement and of horizontal water‐particle velocity. Theoretical predictions are compared with laboratory measurements of random waves propagating onto an opposing current. The theoretical model is shown to be in reasonable agreement with observations.