School of Mechanical Engineering Yaron Toledo

School of Mechanical Engineering Seminar
Monday, May 21, 2018 at 14:00
Wolfson Building of Mechanical Engineering, Room 206

Waves and currents — theory, modelling and measurements in the East Mediterranean Sea with a perspective of Israel’s development challenges

Yaron Toledo, PhD
Senior lecturer

Marine Engineering and Physics Lab, head

School of Mechanical Engineering
Tel-Aviv University, Israel

A main part of the talk will present an investigation of nonlinear shoaling and infra-gravity (IG) waves. Nonlinear interactions between sea waves and the sea bottom are a main mechanism of energy transfer between the different wave frequencies in the near-shore region. In addition to changing the wind-wave spectral shape, nonlinear shoaling can generate infra-gravity waves, which lie outside of the wind-wave regime. Their comparably large wavelengths (O(1-10km) depending on the bottom depth) can significantly influence marine engineering design due to basin resonances, harbor agitations and their influence on beach morphology.

Nonlinear wave interactions will be discussed and inspected in a wholesome manner combining theoretical, modelling and field measurement perspectives. A stochastic mathematical formulation allowing for their inclusion in large-scale wave forecasting models will be given. A connection between IG wave signal to the wind-wave spectrum in deep water is found. The talk will conclude with presenting several new deep water IG wave generation mechanisms and the possibility to extend wind wave forecasting models to IG the wave regime.