Energy Balance Model for Breaking Solitary Wave Runup

The runup of breaking solitary waves on a plane beach has been investigated. Experimental measurements demonstrate the effect of the impact of the jet from a plunging breaking solitary wave and the postbreaking bore formed on the resultant runup. An empirical method was developed based on energy conservation principles to provide an estimate of the runup of breaking solitary waves on a plane slope. Energy dissipation associated with wave breaking was estimated using the results from a numerical model developed by Li. The results from this highly simplified energy conservation model agree reasonably well with experiments, and this model appears to be useful in predicting breaking solitary wave runup on a plane beach.