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A Generation Mechanism for Very Low Frequency Surf Zone Eddies.

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Title: A Generation Mechanism for Very Low Frequency Surf Zone Eddies.
Authors: Yu, Jie1 (AUTHOR) jie.yu4.civ@us.navy.mil, Veeramony, Jay1 (AUTHOR), Orzech, Mark1 (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Physical Oceanography. Nov2025, Vol. 55 Issue 11, p1937-1950. 14p.
Subjects: Wave-current interaction, Vortex motion, Water waves, Shorelines
Abstract: We examine an instability mechanism for generating very low frequency (VLF) vortical motions in the surf zone that oscillate with periods of O(10) min and associated alongshore wavelengths of O(100) m. The instability arises due to the mutual, dynamic interaction of wave and current. The mathematical formulation of the instability analysis follows the previous studies for generating rip current circulations. The unstable modes of the instability are examined for two classes of beach profiles, each of which is generalized from the realistic bathymetry of its kind: a fringing reef beach and a sandy beach with a well-defined alongshore bar. In each case, we find the unstable modes with temporal periods and alongshore wavelengths in the ranges of scales of the observed VLF surf zone eddies. Since we consider the stability of a basic state that is steady and alongshore uniform, there are no prescribed temporal or spatial scales in the system. Therefore, the wavenumber–frequency relationship of the unstable VLF modes is intrinsic to the coupling dynamics of wave and current. Since the central physics is the transfer of wave momentum to the current as the wave breaks and wave refraction by the current, which similarly exists regardless of beach and wave conditions, we expect that the intrinsic dynamics to generate VLF surf zone eddies applies more generally. We do not imply that the instability mechanism is necessary for surf zone VLF eddies but call attention to the intrinsic physics that manifest in the mutual, dynamic wave–current coupling and can interact and/or resonate with other excitation forces to influence VLF generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Physical Oceanography is the property of American Meteorological Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Data: A Generation Mechanism for Very Low Frequency Surf Zone Eddies.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yu%2C+Jie%22">Yu, Jie</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> jie.yu4.civ@us.navy.mil</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Veeramony%2C+Jay%22">Veeramony, Jay</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Orzech%2C+Mark%22">Orzech, Mark</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Physical+Oceanography%22">Journal of Physical Oceanography</searchLink>. Nov2025, Vol. 55 Issue 11, p1937-1950. 14p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Wave-current+interaction%22">Wave-current interaction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Vortex+motion%22">Vortex motion</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Water+waves%22">Water waves</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Shorelines%22">Shorelines</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: We examine an instability mechanism for generating very low frequency (VLF) vortical motions in the surf zone that oscillate with periods of O(10) min and associated alongshore wavelengths of O(100) m. The instability arises due to the mutual, dynamic interaction of wave and current. The mathematical formulation of the instability analysis follows the previous studies for generating rip current circulations. The unstable modes of the instability are examined for two classes of beach profiles, each of which is generalized from the realistic bathymetry of its kind: a fringing reef beach and a sandy beach with a well-defined alongshore bar. In each case, we find the unstable modes with temporal periods and alongshore wavelengths in the ranges of scales of the observed VLF surf zone eddies. Since we consider the stability of a basic state that is steady and alongshore uniform, there are no prescribed temporal or spatial scales in the system. Therefore, the wavenumber–frequency relationship of the unstable VLF modes is intrinsic to the coupling dynamics of wave and current. Since the central physics is the transfer of wave momentum to the current as the wave breaks and wave refraction by the current, which similarly exists regardless of beach and wave conditions, we expect that the intrinsic dynamics to generate VLF surf zone eddies applies more generally. We do not imply that the instability mechanism is necessary for surf zone VLF eddies but call attention to the intrinsic physics that manifest in the mutual, dynamic wave–current coupling and can interact and/or resonate with other excitation forces to influence VLF generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Physical Oceanography is the property of American Meteorological Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1175/JPO-D-25-0071.1
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 14
        StartPage: 1937
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Wave-current interaction
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Vortex motion
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Water waves
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Shorelines
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: A Generation Mechanism for Very Low Frequency Surf Zone Eddies.
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            NameFull: Yu, Jie
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            NameFull: Veeramony, Jay
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            NameFull: Orzech, Mark
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            – D: 01
              M: 11
              Text: Nov2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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              Value: 11
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            – TitleFull: Journal of Physical Oceanography
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