Can edge waves be generated by wind?

Edge waves, the infragravity waves trapped by near-shore topography, are important in morphodynamics and flooding on mildly sloping beaches. usually generated swell via triad interactions. Here, we examine possibility that edge might be also directly wind. By processing data from SandyDuck’97 experiment, show pronounced directional asymmetry of does occur nature, apparently unrelated to direction swells along-shore currents. These observations exhibit propagating downwind under moderate wind against currents, while is incident nearly normally shoreline, which strongly suggests generation We theoretically possible mechanisms edge-wave excitation ‘maser’ mechanism suggested Longuet-Higgins ( Proc. R. Soc. Lond. A, vol. 311, issue 1506, 1969 b , pp. 371–389) context free water effective favourable conditions: nonlinearly interacting random short wind-forced create a viscous shear stress surface with variation being phase linked allows self-excitation coherent wave. The model put forward based upon kinetic equation for inhomogeneous current due an needs dedicated experiment validation. Analysis plausible alternative Miles’ critical layer stresses induced wave air revealed no instability consideration confined main mode constant slope bathymetry.