Energy considerations for nonlinear equatorial water waves

Abstract

In this article we consider the excess kinetic and potential energies for exact nonlinear equatorial water waves. An investigation of linear waves establishes that the excess kinetic energy density is always negative, whereas the excess potential energy density is always positive, for periodic travelling irrotational water waves in the steady reference frame. For negative wavespeeds, we prove that similar inequalities must also hold for nonlinear wave solutions. Characterisations of the various excess energy densities as integrals along the wave surface profile are also derived.