Solitary waves, self-reinforcing disturbances that propagate without changing shape, frequently appear in natural phenomena from ocean waves to atmospheric disturbances, and understanding their behaviour is crucial for modelling these systems. André de Laire, Olivier Goubet, and María Eugenia Martínez, working with colleagues at the University of Lille and the Centro de Modelamiento Matemático (CMM), investigate the dynamics of these waves in realistic, complex environments. The team focuses on solitary waves described by a versatile four-parameter model, known as the abcd Boussinesq system, and specifically examines how these waves evolve over a seabed that gradually changes in depth. By developing a novel analytical approach, the researchers demonstrate how these waves interact with and respond to subtle variations in the ocean floor, allowing for a more accurate prediction of their long-term behaviour and stability, a significant advancement in the field of nonlinear wave dynamics.
Boussinesq derivation provides a framework for understanding wave propagation in various physical systems. Within the equations, a specific regime is characterised by certain parameter conditions, allowing for detailed analysis of wave behaviour. This paper investigates the existence of generalised solitary waves and their collision dynamics over a physically relevant variable bottom regime, initially proposed by M. Chen. The bottom topography is represented by a smooth function of space and time, enabling a detailed description of weak long-wave phenomena and their interactions with variable bottom features.
Solitary Wave Dynamics Over Variable Seabeds
This research focuses on the mathematical analysis of Boussinesq-type equations, which model water waves, and specifically examines the behaviour of solitary waves as they propagate over uneven seabeds. The study establishes the existence and uniqueness of solutions, determines their long-term stability, and investigates soliton-like solutions, including collisions and refraction. Researchers likely incorporate numerical simulations to complement the analytical results, with clear connections to tsunami modelling, as variable bottom topography is crucial for understanding their propagation and impact. Key areas of investigation include the Boussinesq equations, the properties of solitary waves and solitons, the impact of variable bottom topography on wave propagation, and the stability of solutions over time.
Researchers also explore the asymptotic behaviour of waves and how they bend and bounce off changes in bottom topography, drawing upon functional and harmonic analysis. Prominent researchers frequently cited in this field include De Laire and Merle, who have made significant contributions to the development of Boussinesq equations and the understanding of water wave dynamics. The work of Ursell and Peregrine, foundational figures in water wave theory, also provides essential context for this research. In summary, this is a comprehensive study of the mathematical modelling of water waves, with a particular emphasis on the behaviour of solitary waves over variable bottom topography. The research combines analytical techniques with numerical simulations to gain a deeper understanding of these complex phenomena.
Solitary Wave Collisions with Variable Topography
This work presents a detailed investigation into the behaviour of solitary waves within a model of shallow water waves, extended to include a variable bottom topography. Researchers rigorously established the existence of generalised solitary waves and analysed their collision dynamics in this complex environment. The model incorporates parameters representing the interplay between dispersion and nonlinearity, allowing for a nuanced description of wave behaviour. The study focuses on a regime where the bottom topography is represented by a function, enabling a detailed description of weak, long-range interactions between solitary waves and the slowly varying bottom, preventing wave destruction during these interactions. Scientists constructed a new approximate solution that accurately captures these interactions, providing a foundation for understanding wave evolution in uneven media. Through rigorous mathematical analysis, the team demonstrated the existence of these generalised solitary waves and established their stability, developing a modulated wave framework in uneven media to ensure the accuracy of their results.
Solitary Wave Propagation Over Variable Seabeds
This research establishes the existence of solitary waves and details their behaviour during collisions within a model of water wave dynamics incorporating a variable seabed. The team successfully demonstrated that these waves can maintain their form and continue propagating even over gently changing seabed profiles. This achievement builds upon previous work with simplified models, addressing a key challenge in accurately describing real-world wave behaviour where the seabed is rarely uniform. The findings are significant because they provide a more realistic framework for modelling coastal wave propagation and understanding phenomena such as tsunami run-up or wave energy dissipation near shorelines. While the study confirms the stability of solitary waves under these conditions, the authors acknowledge that the model assumes small variations in the seabed profile and does not account for more complex seabed features or wave breaking. Future research could explore the impact of larger seabed variations, the inclusion of additional physical effects such as viscosity, and the extension of these findings to higher-dimensional wave models, ultimately leading to even more accurate and comprehensive predictions of wave behaviour in natural environments.
👉 More information
🗞 Dynamics of generalized abcd Boussinesq solitary waves under a slowly variable bottom
🧠 ArXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.21632
