Papers in Marine Biology and Oceanography, Suppl. lo vol, 3 of Decp-Sea Research, pp. 4.15-437 



Elevation of sea level caused by wind in a rectangular channel 



By Walter Hansen 



Summary — Inquiries are made into the rise of water level due to wind in a rectangular basin, and 

 comparisons of the results made with observations during the storm surge on the Dutch coast in 

 1953. 



In addition to normal tides, storm surges occur occasionally on the coasts of the 

 North Sea, causing severe damage. In 1953, a storm surge — called the Holhind 

 Hurricane — caused especially serious devastation, not only in the Netherlands but 

 also in Great Britain. 



Both scientists and engineers are anxious to learn about the development of such 

 storm surges as effected by the morphology of the sea bottom and the configuration 

 of the coast bounding the respective sea area within the storm field. 



Fig. 1. Maximal elevation of the storm 



surge of 31 January in the North Sea. 



(From RossiTER.) 



The following account deals with an experiment to detect the changes of sea level 

 for a given wind field. Only a large-scale survey can be described here; detailed 

 investigations are planned and -thanks to the kindness of Professor Rossby-w.II 

 be carried out on the Besk in Stockholm. 



Details of the problem are as follows: . , .- , , u ui 



The elevation of water-level produced in a local, constant wind hold, but Nanablc 

 with time, can be numerically ascertained in a rectangular basin corresponding in 

 its position and dimensions approximately to those of the North Sea 



The quantitative relation between known and unknown magnitudes is given b> 

 hydrodynamical differential equations. As the configuration ot he ^^ - ; . 

 Coriolis force and friction will be considered, it is not possible to represent the 



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