Zhang, C.; Zhang, Q.; Lei, G.; Cai, F.; Zheng, J., and Chen, K., 2018. Wave nonlinearity correction for parametric nearshore wave modelling. In: Shim, J.-S.; Chun, I., and Lim, H.S. (eds.), Proceedings from the International Coastal Symposium (ICS) 2018 (Busan, Republic of Korea). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 85, pp. 996–1000. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.

Many phase-averaged parametric nearshore wave models are based on the energy balance concept and use linear wave theory to calculate wave parameters (e.g., wave energy, wave height, wave setup). For a wave propagating into shallow water, however, its shape becomes skewed/asymmetric and the linear wave theory may not be appropriate. Seven cases of model-data comparison for regular wave transformation over sloping and barred beaches are carried out. It is shown that the model using linear wave theory underestimates the regular wave height near the breakpoint, and overestimates the breaking roller length in the surf zone. An empirical method is proposed to improve the performance of the parametric wave models in shallow waters by correcting the key model parameters to include wave nonlinearity effects. This includes (1) development of a new empirical formula for the nonlinear wave shape factor, (2) using a nonlinear wave celerity formula, and (3) implementing a new empirical formula for breaking roller slope. These formulas are functions of wave steepness and Ursell number. The proposed method systematically improves predictions of wave height, wave setup and roller evolution under regular wave transformation with different beach configurations. In particular, the peaks of wave height and mean water level near the breakpoint as well as the roller length variation in the surf zone are accurately captured by the wave nonlinearity-corrected model.